Kudus scores as Ghana qualify for 2026 World Cup

Mohammed Kudus netted the decisive goal as Ghana secured a 1-0 victory against Comoros in Accra on Sunday, clinching Group I and earning their place as the fifth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, following Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

With a full house of 40,000 fans roaring them on, Ghana controlled the ball and the pitch in the opening 45 minutes, yet their cautious and repetitive forward moves rarely tested Comoros keeper Adel Anzimati-Aboudou.

That changed quickly after the break when Tottenham's Kudus put them ahead in the 47th minute.

Comoros managed only a partial clearance from a chaotic scramble near goal, and with a low cross sent into the six-yard area, Kudus poked the ball home from close range.

This triumph over Comoros felt especially rewarding, given the Indian Ocean team's upset win against Ghana at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and their repeat success in the World Cup qualifying second stage two years prior.

Ghana lead the group with 25 points from 10 games. Madagascar took second on 19 points, even after suffering a 4-1 defeat to third-placed Mali in Bamako.

This marks the fifth time the Black Stars will feature in the global event. Their strongest showing came in 2010 in South Africa, ending with a quarter-final penalty shootout loss to Uruguay.

Earning a spot in the enlarged 48-team 2026 competition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, vindicates the trust placed by Ghanaian authorities in manager Otto Addo, who faced intense criticism last year.

Calls grew loud from fans and press in the West African nation for Addo's dismissal following a dismal 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying effort.

Ghana, who claimed the title four times from 1963 to 1982, failed to secure a single victory in their six Africa Cup qualifiers, ending bottom behind Angola, Sudan, and Niger with a mere three points.

The remaining four direct African World Cup berths will be confirmed on Monday and Tuesday, with Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, and Senegal heading their groups.

Egypt win without Salah

Egypt gave Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah a rest for their last fixture against Guinea-Bissau at home, and an early strike from Mohamed Hamdy sealed a 1-0 success in Group A in Cairo.

Niger pulled off a 1-0 surprise against Zambia in Ndola to claim second in Group E, trailing Morocco, and they now sit third in the standings for second-placed teams, behind Gabon and Burkina Faso.

The top four runners-up after Tuesdays final matches will proceed to play-offs in Morocco this November.

The winner of that tournament, which includes one-off semi-finals and a final, will advance to a six-team inter-continental play-off in March, where two World Cup slots are available.

Niger forward Daniel Sosah found the net in his third consecutive qualifier, blasting in a rebound on 56 minutes after Zambia keeper Lawrence Mulenga spilled a shot from Victorien Adebayor.

In the meantime, the Nigerian players, coaching team, support staff, and officials reached the southeastern city of Uyo without issues on Sunday.

Heading back from a Group C victory over Lesotho in South Africa the previous Friday, the flight with the Super Eagles made an unscheduled stop in Angola because of a damaged windscreen.

Team spokesperson Promise Efoghe noted that a substitute plane was dispatched to Luanda, allowing the group to complete their trip to Nigeria uneventfully.

Nigeria, seen as early frontrunners in Group C, hold third place ahead of the closing round on Tuesday, trailing Benin by three points and South Africa by one.

Still, the Super Eagles can end top should they overcome surprise frontrunners Benin in Uyo while South Africa fail to beat Rwanda at home.

South Sudan manager Nicolas Dupuis has allegedly received a 15-day ban and instructions to steer clear of the national team following a 5-0 defeat to Group B frontrunners Senegal on Friday.

The 57-year-old France native Dupuis led Madagascar to an unexpected triumph over Nigeria at the 2019 Cup of Nations in Egypt, and the side surpassed predictions by making the quarter-finals on their debut.