Black Stars held to late draw by Chad in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

The Black Stars missed the chance to extend their lead in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after being held to a 1-1 draw by Chad.

Ghana, who came into the game with four straight wins in the series, took an early advantage through Jordan Ayew in the 12th minute. The Crystal Palace forward latched onto a square pass from Mohammed Kudus to put Otto Addo‘s side in front.

Despite their bright start, the Black Stars struggled to dominate and wasted several chances to seal victory. Antoine Semenyo failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, while Kudus went close with a curling effort that missed the top corner by inches.

Their missed chances proved costly as Chad found a dramatic late equaliser. Celestine Ecua ran through midfield unchallenged before unleashing a strike that deflected off Caleb Yirenkyi into the net in the 90th minute.

The goal earned Chad their first point of the qualifiers after six successive defeats and marked a memorable return to hosting international football on home soil for the first time in six years.

The Black Stars, still unbeaten in the campaign, will next face Mali on September 8 as they look to bounce back to winning ways.