Ghana have confirmed their place at World Cup 2026, thanks to a 1-0 win over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Black Stars join Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria at the showcase in Canada, Mexico, and the USA next year. And after Mohamed Salah fired Egypt to the finals last week, it was another Premier League star who wrote the World Cup 2026 news headlines as Mohammed Kudus scored the vital goal that saw Ghana get through a nerve-racking match against the plucky Comoros.
After a goalless first half, the Black Stars broke through early in the second period with a well-worked move which presented Kudus with a tap-in. Mohammed Salisu crossed to Thomas Partey, and he laid the ball off for the Tottenham Hotspur star to gleefully guide home. Any thoughts of going for a second goal gradually disappeared as the minutes ticked away, and Comoros looked the more likely to score. But the Black Stars defence was resolute, and the favourites saw the game out without too many scares.
Quarter-finalists in 2010, this is Ghana’s fifth appearance at the World Cup finals, and they join a talented and ambitious group of teams. The giants of European football are all readying themselves for the finals, while holders Argentina and Brazil will also be a force in the USA.
But while the World Cup 2026 betting odds predict a champion from the powerhouses of Europe and South America, the football nations of Africa continue to progress. Many of their players operate in Europe’s top leagues, and there has been notable success in the past for Cameroon, who reached the quarter-finals back in 1990, Ghana, in South Africa in 2010, and more recently, Morocco, who reached the semi-finals in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.
Cape Verde makes history
A 3-0 win over Eswatini has sent the minnows of Cape Verde through to the World Cup finals for their first time in their history. Placed 70th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Blue Sharks have edged out the giants of Cameroon, winning Group D to secure their top spot, having beaten the favourites 1-0 last month.
Victory over Eswatini was sure to be enough for the second-smallest nation ever to reach the finals. Dailon Livramento scored from close range to settle the nerves in a packed 15,000-capacity national stadium, and when Willy Semedo volleyed home a second soon after, the celebrations began. Stopira added a third in stoppage time to a deafening sound in the crowd, and Cape Verde had qualified, first attempting in 2002. The archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean has a population of just over 500,000, with only Iceland qualifying for the World Cup finals in Russia in 2018, with a smaller population.
Having gained independence from Portugal in 1975, the Blue Sharks have worked their way gradually up the football pyramid, and now they have reached their summit.
Centre-back Pico Lopes was delighted after the final whistle, saying. “Traditionally, it’s been difficult to qualify for the World Cup. This time, if you finish first, you’re in. The motivation to be first and hold on to that has been crucial.”
The Lions are sweating
Cameroon fluffed their chance after losing to Cape Verde last month. They were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Angola at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Monday. It was the second time the Indomitable Lions had failed to beat Angola, and they are now sweating on results elsewhere, particularly DR Congo’s upcoming match with Sudan.
A win would have guaranteed Cameroon finish as one of the top four second-placed nations, but now they have opened the door for DR Congo before the play-off places are finalised. With players of the calibre of Napoli’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo in the squad, this is a nation which should have qualified, but there is still work to do.
With Senegal and the Ivory Coast playing on Tuesday night and hoping to book their places, there are still other matters to be settled in Africa. But now, six teams have done the business and can look forward to next year’s World Cup.
With success for Ghana and Cape Verde, the African World Cup candidates are taking their places. There are more matters to be resolved, but this week we’re back to domestic matters. So, keep it here at SBOTOP as we preview the best action from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga.
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