The Black Stars of Ghana stand on the cusp of a significant milestone, aiming to secure their fifth qualification for the FIFA World Cup. Otto Addo’s formidable squad is set to face the Central African Republic (CAR) in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying fixture in Morocco. Currently, Ghana leads Group I with 19 points, maintaining a three-point advantage over second-placed Madagascar. A victory against CAR could effectively confirm their automatic qualification, contingent on the outcomes of other matches within the group.

Ghana’s journey through the qualifiers has been largely dominant under Otto Addo’s leadership, boasting an impressive record of six wins, one draw, and only one defeat across eight matches. Their only setbacks came in a narrow 1-0 loss to Comoros and a 1-1 draw with Chad earlier in the campaign. However, the Black Stars quickly rebounded, notably with a 1-0 triumph over Mali in Accra. Their attacking prowess is evident with 17 goals scored, the highest in the group, complemented by a solid defense that has conceded just six goals, showcasing their tactical discipline and resilience. The year 2024 has been particularly strong for Ghana, with four wins, one draw, and one defeat from six games, fostering high confidence within the camp as they approach this decisive match. With CAR already out of contention, Ghana is eager to cap off their qualifying run with an emphatic victory.

Conversely, the Central African Republic enters this match with only pride to play for. Under Eloge Enza Yamissi, their campaign has been disappointing, marked by five defeats in their last six matches and a notable inability to score in their previous five outings. Consecutive 2-0 losses to Madagascar and Comoros have left them in fifth place in the standings, with a mere five points from eight games. Their sole victory in this campaign was a narrow 1-0 win against Chad in June 2024. Defensive frailties have plagued CAR throughout the qualifiers, as they have conceded 17 goals, the second-highest in the group. Facing an in-form Ghana side, Les Fauves will need an exceptional performance to avoid ending their campaign on another sour note.

Historically, Ghana holds a favorable record against the Central African Republic. In their three previous encounters, Ghana has secured two wins and one draw, remaining unbeaten against CAR. The last meeting between these two teams was a thrilling affair at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, where Ghana staged a comeback from a 2-1 first-half deficit to win 4-3, with Jordan Ayew notably scoring a hat-trick.

Regarding team news, Otto Addo is expected to have a near-full complement of his 24-man squad for Tuesday's training session in Casablanca before their departure to Meknes. New additions to the Black Stars fold include Kojo Peprah Oppong of OGC Nice and Medeama’s Prince Owusu. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Alidu Seidu, both recovering from long-term cruciate ligament injuries, have also returned to the national team for the final qualifiers. For CAR, Eugène Ganazoui of AS Douanes is the only new invitee for the October break, while Noah Ato-Zandanga, Brad Pirioua, Sydney Tchibinda, Vénuste Baboula, Delphin Mokonou, Axel Urie, and Enzo Grothe make a return to the national squad.

Key players for Ghana to watch include Jordan Ayew, who despite the strong club form of Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, has been Ghana's most prolific contributor in these qualifiers, directly involved in 11 goals (six goals, five assists) in eight games. Ayew will be looking to further his tally, while Semenyo, Kudus, and Issahaku aim to translate their impressive club form to the national stage.

Ghana's qualification scenarios are clear: they will secure early qualification if they defeat CAR and Madagascar fails to beat Comoros. Alternatively, a draw in the Comoros vs. Madagascar match combined with a Ghana win would also seal Otto Addo’s side’s passage to the World Cup. The decisive match against CAR is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 16:00 GMT, to be played at the Stade D’Honneur de Meknes in Morocco. Given Ghana's current fine form, superior squad quality, and high motivation, they are strong favorites to claim victory. The Central African Republic’s struggles with scoring and defensive lapses are unlikely to withstand Ghana’s formidable attacking power, led by talents such as Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, and Antoine Semenyo. The predicted scoreline is Ghana 3–0 Central African Republic.