Ghana Stunned! Black Stars Draw with Chad in World Cup Qualifier!

The Black Stars' push for automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup suffered a major setback on Thursday after being held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Chad in N’Djamena. The result gave the hosts their first point of the campaign under new head coach Raoul Savoy.

Ayew's Early Goal Not Enough

Jordan Ayew's early goal in the 17th minute, a tap-in after brilliant wing play from Mohammed Kudus, seemed to have put Ghana in control. However, Celestin Ecua stunned the visitors with an 89th-minute equaliser, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Chad's Resilient Performance

While Ghana controlled the early stages and created the better first-half chances, they failed to find a second goal to kill off the contest. As Ghana retreated to protect their lead, Chad grew into the game and, with time running out, Ecua struck to earn a deserved share of the spoils.

This match marked Chad's first competitive home international on Chadian soil in six years, and their first at the newly inaugurated Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno Olympic Stadium. Stadium issues and sanctions had previously forced them to play “home” matches abroad.

Concerns Over Pitch Conditions

Prior to the game, Ghana coach Otto Addo voiced concerns about the pitch, describing it as “like concrete” and urging CAF and FIFA to enforce higher standards. Despite these misgivings, Chad made the occasion count and secured a historic draw.

Despite the draw, Ghana remains top of Group I, but their lead is fragile with Comoros and Madagascar yet to play their fixtures. Former National Sports Authority Chairman, Seth Panwum Boyoyo, has urged the Black Stars to give their all in their remaining World Cup qualifiers.

The Black Stars now face pressure to perform in their upcoming matches to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.