Ghana started their 2026 World Cup qualifiers with an indispensable home win over Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday, November 17.
Striker Inaki Williams grabbed a late win for the Black Stars with a strong header in the 95th minute to give Ghana every one of the three points as the game finished 1-0.
The Black Stars had their first shot on target in the 25th-minute with Jordan Ayew constraining a save out of the goalkeeper.
The away team Madagascar looked better in all parts of the first half with the exception of that they failed to score.
The last part of the game saw the introduction of Majeed Ashimeru and Denis Odoi who brought in some ‘power’ into the team’s dynamic in the last third.
Kudus tried an effort from 20 yards, a shot which was parried away by the opponent’s goalkeeper. Inaki Williams thought he had scored the first goal and his first for Ghana but his strike was ruled for offside.
Ernest Nuamah later came on to replace Antoine Semenyo aftee 72 minutes and was all over the field, ensuring the Stars shine before the end of the game.
Once more majeed Ashimeru crashed into the opposition’s box with a purpose and released a left-foot strike but was denied by the Madagascar goalkeeper. It was a comparable situation when Nuamah played Kudus on goal with a lobbed pass.
Madagascar’s Barea came close to getting a goal in the 81st minute of the game but the forward’s header fell off the upstanding while the bounce back went only wide of the post.
Ghana kept on pushing for the winner in the dying minutes of the game and in the end paid off after Gideon Mensah found Inaki with an excellent measured cross from the left flank.
The Athletic Bilbao forward committed no error from short proximity, controlling his header past the goalkeeper to break the jinx for Ghana.
The goal was also his first for the country in his twelve (12) appearance.
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