World Cup Qualifying - Africa | Group Stage

Mar 21, 2025 at 7pm UK

Ozumachi Sports Stadium

Ghana vs Chad

Match preview

Ghana failed to book their place at the 2025 African Cup of Nations when they were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by fellow West African giants Nigeria in their final match of the 2024 campaign in December.

After being held to a goalless draw in Accra on 22 December, Ghana found themselves three goals down in the space of 25 minutes a week later as Ismaila Sodiq, Nduka Junior and Isaac Savior struck to give Nigeria a commanding lead before Stephen Amankona's 73rd-minute consolation.

It followed a forgettable campaign in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Ghana failed to win any of their six Group F matches, losing three and drawing three to finish bottom of the standings with three points from a possible 18.

While Otto Addo's men failed to win any of their last eight matches in all competitions, they are now back in action in the World Cup qualifiers, where they have won three of their four matches in Group I, seeing off Madagascar, Mali and Central African Republic.

The Black Stars' only qualifying defeat came in November 2023, when they were beaten 1-0 by Comoros at the Stade de Moroni thanks to a first-half strike from 26-year-old striker Myziane Maolida.

Chad, meanwhile, return to the World Cup qualifying race in desperate need of a result to lift their spirits, having lost all four of their Group I matches so far.

After successive defeats to Mali and Madagascar in November 2023, Les Sao were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Central African Republic in June 2024, a week before losing 2-0 to Comoros at the Stade Municipal Oujda.

Chad's underwhelming qualifying campaign has been due in no small part to their lack of cutting edge in attack, where they have scored just one goal so far while conceding nine at the other end of the pitch - only Mauritania are yet to score in the qualifiers.

While Tahir Gardia's men will be hoping to turn the corner this year and get their qualifying campaign back on track, recent results have left them without a win in their last 11 matches in all competitions, with five draws and six defeats.

This poor run of form saw Chad finish bottom of Group G in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers with just three points from a possible 18, before they were beaten 4-2 by Congo DR in the CHAN play-offs in December.

Recent Performance

Ghana World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:WLWWWW

Chad World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:LLLL

Team News

Ghana will be boosted by the return to the national team of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, with the 31-year-old ending a six-month absence due to injury.

Partey heads a 23-man Black Stars squad that also includes Mohammed Salisu, Inaki Williams, Mohammed Kudus, Leicester City's Jordan Ayew and Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo.

Addo has also given Genk winger Christopher Bonsu Baah his first senior call-up, while Kamaradini Mamudu (Medeama SC), Razak Simpson (Nations FC) and Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak) are the three local players named in the squad.

As for Chad, head coach Gardia has named a 25-man squad for the March qualifiers against Ghana and Comoros, with the majority of the players coming from local clubs.

AS PS have contributed 14 of the 25 players, including Abdoulaye Mahamat, Allarabaye Yves and Mahamat Abakar, while only Tajikistan goalkeeper Mbaynaissem Jourdain and Castuera midfielder Mahamat Thiam Maintah have been selected from foreign clubs.

Possible starting lineup

Ghana possible starting lineup:

Zigi; Mensah, Dijku, Salisu, Opoku; Partey, Owusu; Semenyo, Kudus, Williams; Ayew

Chad possible starting lineup:

Jourdain; Abderamane, Felix, H Abakar, Allaramadji; Maintah, Allarabaye Yves, Lingar, Abderamane; Yannick, Goukoui