Partey and Kudus Shine as Ghana Crush Madagascar to Extend World Cup Lead

JOHANNESBURG, 25th March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Thomas Partey netted twice, and fellow Premier League midfielder Mohammed Kudus added another, as Ghana secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Madagascar in a top-of-the-table clash in African World Cup qualifying for 2026.

Ghana’s captain, Jordan Ayew, provided the assists for all three goals, ensuring a perfect night for the Premier League stars. The win extended Ghana's lead to five points over second-placed Madagascar in Group I.

In an added boost for Ghana, Mali, the top seeds in the group, were held to a surprising 0-0 draw by the Central African Republic in Casablanca, Morocco, dropping crucial points in the process.

Ghana, aiming for their fifth World Cup appearance, now have 15 points, while Madagascar remain on 10. Mali and the Comoros are both on nine, the Central African Republic have five, and Chad remain bottom with no points.

The final match of the group stage takes place on Tuesday, with Comoros hosting Chad, knowing a victory would bring them within three points of Ghana.

Arsenal midfielder Partey proved a dominant force in the air, scoring both of his goals with headers. He first converted an Ayew free-kick in the 11th minute, before heading in another cross from Leicester City's Ayew on 53 minutes.

West Ham United's Kudus rounded off the scoring in the 58th minute, collecting an Ayew pass and firing past Luxembourg-based goalkeeper Geordan Dupire.

Madagascar, who had hoped for a stronger showing after a 4-1 victory over the Central African Republic in their opening match under new coach Corentin Martins, never posed a significant threat to Ghana. The match was played in Al Hoceima, Morocco, as Madagascar, along with 21 other African nations, lacks FIFA-approved venues.

This victory marked Ghana's fifth win in six World Cup qualifiers, as they continue to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where they finished bottom of their group after drawing three matches and losing three.

Ivory Coast Labour to Victory Over Gambia

Meanwhile, reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast had to grind out a 1-0 victory over The Gambia in Abidjan. Sebastien Haller, who netted the winning goal in the Cup of Nations final against Nigeria, scored in the 15th minute to give Ivory Coast all three points.

Brighton winger Simon Adingra provided the assist for Haller’s goal, ensuring the Ivorians top Group F with 16 points. Gabon are in second place with 15 points, followed by Burundi on seven, Kenya on six, The Gambia on four, and Seychelles, who have yet to register a point.

Late Goals Seal Tunisia's Win Over Malawi

Group H leaders Tunisia also made headlines with a late 2-0 victory over 10-man Malawi in Rades. Seifeddine Jaziri broke the deadlock with a header in the 86th minute, before Elias Achouri converted a penalty in injury time. Malawi, who had defended resolutely after Lloyd Aaron’s red card in the 65th minute, were unlucky to concede twice.

Burkina Faso Close Gap on Egypt

Burkina Faso moved within two points of Group A leaders Egypt with a 2-1 win in Guinea-Bissau, thanks to a brace from Shakhtar Donetsk forward Lassina Traore. Egypt, who have won a record seven Africa Cup of Nations titles but have only qualified for the World Cup twice, will face Sierra Leone on Tuesday. Egypt have 13 points, Burkina Faso have 11, and Sierra Leone are on eight.

Ethiopia Triumphs Over Djibouti

In another emphatic result, Ethiopia bounced back from a poor qualifying campaign with a 6-1 demolition of Djibouti in El Jadida. Bereket Desta and Abubeker Nassir both scored hat-tricks, with Ethiopia now showing a more clinical edge after scoring only once in their previous five qualifiers.

As the African World Cup qualifiers progress, Ghana and their rivals are setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling final round of matches, with several teams still vying for a place in the 2026 tournament.