Black Stars out to seal qualification; key matches in runners-up race

Sunday will kick-off the final matchday in the group stage of Africa’s 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying tournament, with Ghana’s Black Stars looking to join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria in punching their ticket to the 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 among 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