High stakes in Meknes: Ghana seek key win over Central African Republic in penultimate qualifier

The Black Stars continue their march toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday evening at the Stade d’Honneur de Meknes in Morocco.

With just two matches remaining in the Group I qualifiers, this penultimate clash could prove decisive in determining Ghana’s path to the global showpiece.

A victory in Meknes could see Otto Addo’s men seal qualification - depending on other results - or at least put them firmly in control heading into Sunday’s final home game against Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Ghana come into the match brimming with confidence after their hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Mali in Accra last week.

Defender Alexander Djiku’s scrappy goal was enough to secure three precious points and reignite belief among the passionate Ghanaian fans.

Otto Addo is likely to stick with his core group, with Jordan Ayew leading the line after an impressive scoring run earlier in the campaign.

Mohammed Kudus will once again shoulder the creative burden, while Thomas Partey’s experience and leadership are expected to anchor the midfield.

The Central African Republic, meanwhile, will not be short of motivation. The Wild Beasts have proven competitive throughout the qualifiers and will aim to spoil Ghana’s momentum with a spirited performance on neutral ground.

With the standings tightly contested, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win for Ghana would take them within touching distance of World Cup qualification - or potentially confirm their place if results elsewhere go their way.

As the clock ticks toward kickoff in Meknes, all eyes will be on the Black Stars to deliver another strong performance and take a massive step closer to booking their ticket to North America 2026.

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