Thomas Partey scored twice and fellow Premier League midfielder Mohammed Kudus once as Ghana outplayed Madagascar 3-0 on Monday (Mar 24) in a top-of-the-table African 2026 World Cup qualifying group match. Captain Jordan Ayew created all three goals to complete a successful night for Premier League players as Ghana built a five-point lead over second-placed Madagascar in Group I.
Ghana’s Thomas Partey scored twice and Mohammed Kudus grabbed another as their side eased to a 3-0 win over Madagascar in a World Cup qualifier played in neutral Morocco on Monday (Mar 24) to take a sizeable step towards a place at the tournament next year.
Ghana did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in a surprise failure that stunned the continent, but it is well on course for a place at the 48-team FIFA men's World Cup which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The team has 15 points from six games in Group I, five ahead of second-placed Madagascar and six more than Mali in third with four rounds to play.
The top team in each of the nine groups earns a place at the global event, while the four best runners-up enter an arduous inter-continental playoff campaign for one further berth.
Partey netted two headers before Kudus provided a neat finish from a pass by Jordan Ayew, who set up all three goals.
Mali held to draw; Ivory Coast, Tunisia win
Mali were held to a 0-0 draw by Central African Republic in a blow to their chances in Group I.
Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller scored with a header from Simon Adingra’s cross as his side edged Gambia 1-0 in Abidjan to return to the top of Group F. It is a point ahead of second-placed Gabon and has yet to concede a goal in six games into its campaign.
Tunisia substitute Seifeddine Jaziri netted a header after 87 minutes and Elias Achouri added an injury-time penalty to end the stubborn resistance of 10-man Malawi in a 2-0 win in Rades. It heads Group H with 16 points from six games after Malawi’s Lloyd Aaron received a second yellow card after 64 minutes.
Second-placed Namibia is four points off the pace after being held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in neutral South Africa. Peter Shalulile gave the Namibians the lead after 51 minutes but Saul Coco equalised three minutes later.
Liberia beat minnows Sao Tome e Principe 2-1 in the other game in the pool.
Lassina Traore scored twice as Burkina Faso won 2-1 at Guinea-Bissau to keep the heat on Group A leaders Egypt. The Burkinabe are within two points of the Egyptians but have played a game more. The latter host Sierra Leone on Tuesday.
Abubeker Nasir scored a hat-trick as Ethiopia trounced Djibouti 6-1 in the other match in Group A.
