The Black Stars of Ghana achieved their first consecutive wins in nine months with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Central African Republic (CAR) in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Monday night at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Jordan Ayew was the star of the match, netting a hat-trick to lead Ghana to victory.
The Crystal Palace striker, who also scored the winning goal in the previous match against Mali, was given a starting role and made an immediate impact.
He opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a penalty, awarded after Fatawu Issahaku was fouled in the box.
CAR quickly responded, with Louis Mafouta scoring twice in the 11th and 41st minutes to put the visitors ahead at halftime.
However, Ghana returned with determination in the second half. Ayew equalized in the 60th minute with a header from a Gideon Mensah cross.
Just two minutes later, Issahaku put Ghana back in the lead with a well-placed shot. Ayew completed his hat-trick by scoring on a rebound after Mohammed Kudus' shot was blocked, extending Ghana's lead to 4-2.
Despite Mafouta completing his hat-trick with a powerful strike for CAR, the Black Stars held on to secure the win.
This marks Ghana's first back-to-back victories since their 2-1 comeback win over CAR in their final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, followed by a 3-1 victory over Liberia in September 2023.
This victory not only propels Ghana to the top of Group I with nine points but also underscores their dominance at the Baba Yara Stadium, where they have never lost a World Cup qualifier.
The Black Stars now look forward to maintaining their top form as they await the results of other matches in the group to solidify their standing after four games.
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