GHANA SECURES THEIR SPOT IN NEXT YEAR’S WORLD CUP – The Black Stars are the fifth African nation to confirm their participation FS
Ghana qualified for next year’s World Cup as Mohammed Kudus tucked away a close-range effort early in the second half to earn a 1-0 win over Comoros and send an overflowing Accra stadium into mass celebration.
Kudus tapped in a square pass from Thomas Partey in the 47th minute to secure victory in front of an expectant crowd, although Ghana would have qualified even in defeat as the closest rivals Madagascar, were beaten 4-1 in Mali at the same time.
The Black Stars are the fifth African nation to confirm their participation at the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States. They have been to four previous tournaments, reaching the quarter-finals in 2010.
Ghana had a three-point lead going into the final round of Group I fixtures, with Madagascar’s slim hopes resting on beating Mali away and Ghana losing at home, but that unlikely permutation was never on the cards after Mali scored in the 10th minute.
Ghana finished with 25 points, with Madagascar second on 19 and Mali third on 18.
In the group’s other game on Sunday, the Central African Republic won 3-2 away to condemn Chad to a winless campaign with a single point from their 10 qualifiers.
