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Jordan Ayew hat-trick gives Ghana victory in crucial World Cup Qualifier against CAR
Jordan Ayew scored a hat-trick in either half as Ghana beat Central African Republic on Matchday 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The win takes Ghana to 9 points following three victories and one loss in four rounds of matches.
Jordan Ayew put Ghana ahead with an early penalty after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was fouled in the box inside six minutes.
Ayew drilled home the opener but the Black Stars trailed 2-1 at the break after Louis Mafouta took advantage of two defensive errors to temporarily silence the home crowd.
Mafouta first scored in the 11th minute before going past Gideon Mensah for his second goal in the 41st minute.
Back from recess, Ghana took control of the game and pressed for the equalizer as Kamal Deen Sulemana and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku swapped positions on the wings.
The pressure paid off in the 60th minute when Jordan Ayew equalised with a powerful header from Gideon Mensah’s cross. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku restored Ghana’s lead with a well-placed strike that beat goalkeeper Flory Yangao for the third goal.
The Black Stars added to the tally in the 69th minute when Jordan Ayew completed his hat-trick to put Ghana 4-2 up.
But Central African Republic mounted pressure and scored the third goal through Louis Moufata in the 90th minute but it was not enough as Ghana held on to win the contest.
The win takes Ghana to the top of Group I with 9 points as they await the results of the other matches on Wednesday, June 11, 2024 to confirm their position in the standings. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will resume in March 2025.
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
