Kudus goal fires Ghana into next year's World Cup Finals

ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana became the fifth African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup Finals on Sunday.

Mohammed Kudus scored as Ghana beat Comoros 1-0 in Accra on Sunday to win Group I, as the 2010 quarterfinalist joins Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Cheered on by a capacity 40,000 crowd, Ghana dominated first half possession and territory, but slow, predictable attacks meant Comoros goalkeeper Adel Anzimati-Aboudou was seldom troubled.

However, the home side wasted little time after the interval in taking the lead as Tottenham midfielder Kudus struck on 47 minutes.

Comoros only partially cleared a goalmouth scramble, and when the ball was crossed low into the six-yard box, Kudus tapped it into the net from point-blank range.

Success against Comoros was particularly sweet as the Indian Ocean islanders shocked Ghana at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and beat it again in the second round of World Cup qualifying two years ago.

Ghana tops the group with 25 points from 10 matches. Madagascar finished second with 19 points despite a 4-1 loss away to third-placed Mali in Bamako.

It will be the fifth appearance by the Black Stars at the global showpiece. Their best performance was in 2010 in South Africa, where they lost to Uruguay after a quarterfinals penalty shootout.

Qualification for the expanded 48-nation 2026 tournament, which the United States, Canada and Mexico will co-host, justified the faith of Ghanaian officials in coach Otto Addo, who was under fire last year.

There were persistent demands from the public and media in the West African country for Addo to be sacked after a disastrous 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign.

Ghana, winner of the competition four times between 1963 and 1982, did not win any of six AFCON qualifiers and finished a humiliating last behind Angola, Sudan and Niger with just three points.

The other four automatic African qualifiers for the World Cup will be decided this week, with Benin, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal all leading their respective groups.

Egypt wins without Salah

Egypt rested Liverpool star Mohamed Salah for its final match at home to Guinea-Bissau, and an early goal from Mohamed Hamdy delivered a 1-0 Group A victory in Cairo.

Niger upset Zambia 1-0 in Ndola to finish second in Group E behind Morocco, and currently lies third in the mini-leagues runner-up table behind Gabon and Burkina Faso.

The four best-ranked second-placed teams after the final qualifiers on Tuesday advance to playoffs in Morocco during November.

Whoever wins the mini-tournament, featuring single-match semifinals and a final, qualifies for a six-nation intercontinental playoff next March with two World Cup places up for grabs.

Niger striker Daniel Sosah scored in his third straight qualifier, firing a rebound into the net on 56 minutes after goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga failed to hold a Victorien Adebayor shot.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian squad, coaches, technical staff and officials arrived safely in southeastern city Uyo on Sunday.

Returning home after a Group C win over Lesotho in South Africa last Friday, the jet carrying the Super Eagles had to make an emergency landing in Angola due to a cracked windscreen.

The team media officer, Promise Efoghe, said a replacement aircraft was sent to Luanda and the journey to Nigeria was safely completed.

Nigeria, the pre-qualifying favorite to win Group C, is third entering the final round on Tuesday, three points behind Benin and one below South Africa.

However, the Super Eagles could finish first if they defeat shock leader Benin in Uyo and South Africa does not win at home to Rwanda.

South Sudan coach Nicolas Dupuis has reportedly been suspended for 15 days and told to stay away from the national squad after a 5-0 home loss to Group B leader Senegal on Friday.

France-born Dupuis, 57, guided Madagascar to a shock win over Nigeria in the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, and the island nation exceeded expectations by reaching the quarterfinals in its first appearance at the continental showpiece.

Qualified nations

Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States

Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Uzbekistan

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

Oceania: New Zealand

AGENCIES