Sports
World Cup Qualifiers: Ghana beats Mali to boost qualification hopes
The Ghana Black Stars on Monday evening secured a vital 1–0 win over Mali in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a result that strengthens their chances of booking a ticket to the 2026 tournament.
The Match
The only goal of the game came in the 52nd minute when Alexander Djiku powered home a header to put Ghana ahead at the charged Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana dominated possession and created more chances, with Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus troubling the Malian defense.
Coach Otto Addo’s side managed the game well, with substitutes, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Iñaki Williams and Joseph Paintsil helping to protect the narrow lead.
Mali pushed for an equalizer but Ghana’s defense held firm until the final whistle.
What the win means
The victory takes Ghana to the top of their qualifying group, giving them a strong advantage in the race to secure a direct World Cup spot.
It also boosts team confidence as the Black Stars aim to make their fifth appearance at the global showpiece.
Games Remaining and Qualification Path
Ghana now has two games left in the qualifiers. To qualify directly, they must finish first in their group.
If they end up second, they will have to compete in the CAF play-offs to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
About the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The next FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11, 2026, and run until July 19, 2026. For the first time in history, the tournament will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the usual 32.
It will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches spread across 16 cities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the dates for the qualifiers of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
The qualifiers will run from September 2026 to March 2027, with the final tournament set for June 19 to July 17, 2027. Ghana will know their group opponents after the draw on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Forty-eight (48) teams will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the competition.
The 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in three East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Find the dates for the qualifiers below:
Port City have officially been crowned champions of the Access Bank Division One League Zone Three after a thrilling 3-2 victory over WAFA SC in their Matchday 28 home fixture.
Having already secured qualification to the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League with three games to spare, Port City showed no signs of slowing down, extending their lead at the top with another impressive performance.
WAFA SC opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Sylvester Henyo, but Port City responded swiftly as Kedzie Korblah Junior converted from the penalty spot to level matters. Alex Boateng then put the hosts ahead before captain Hamza Zakaria extended the lead to 3-1 in the 61st minute.
Melchizedek Frimpong pulled one back for WAFA SC in the 76th minute, but it wasn’t enough to deny Port City the victory and the title celebrations.
This historic triumph sees Port City crowned champions of Zone Three and set to compete in the Ghana Premier League for the first time in the club’s history.
