Ghana aim to confirm 2026 berth; key clashes in runners-up race

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Oct 12, 2025. 12:00

The final matchday of Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament gets underway on Sunday 12 October, headlined by key clashes in the race to be one of the best-ranked runners-up, as well as Ghana aiming to confirm their berth at the global tournament.

Ghana will host Comoros in a Group I fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium in the late evening, needing only a draw to guarantee top spot and qualification.

In fact, the Black Stars could even afford to lose, and have nearest chasers Madagascar (three points behind) win away to Mali in a concurrent game in Bamako, and as long as Ghana remain ahead on goal difference (currently a +16 to +8 advantage) they will still finish top.

Nonetheless, Black Stars coach Otto Addo insists his team must take nothing for granted and put up a professional showing against the Coelacanths.

“At the end, we have worked together because it’s a team sport,” said Addo. “Individuals can make a change, but the most important thing is to work together, work to our strengths and know how to respond when things go wrong.

“Everything is in our hands […]. It is important that we stay focused and concentrated.”

For Madagascar, their clash away to the Eagles is a must-win – more realistically as a boost to their hopes of finishing as one of the top-ranked runners-up across the nine groups and advancing into November’s second round (which will hand one African side a place in next year’s inter-confederation playoffs).

That same logic applies to the afternoon Group E clash between Zambia and Niger at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, with Chipolopolo needing a win to leapfrog into second spot behind already-qualified Morocco, as well as for Burkina Faso’s Group A match at home to Ethiopia at the 4 August Stadium in Ouagadougou.

The Stallions are guaranteed to finish in second spot behind already-qualified Egypt, but a win over the Wayla Antelopes will likely ensure a top-ranked spot amongst the runners-up.

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CAF/Africa)

Matchday 10 fixtures – Sunday 12 October 2025

Times CAT

15:00: Zambia v Niger

18:00: Chad v Central African Republic

21:00: Djibouti v Sierra Leone

21:00: Mali v Madagascar

21:00: Ghana v Comoros

21:00: Egypt v Guinea-Bissau

21:00: Burkina Faso v Ethiopia