Ghana Dominates with Partey Double as Ivory Coast Tops Group F in World Cup Qualifiers

Ghana Shines in World Cup Qualifiers with Partey Heroics

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey delivered a masterclass, scoring two headers as Ghana routed Madagascar 3-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The Black Stars now sit comfortably atop Group I, five points clear of second-placed Madagascar.

11th minute: Partey opened the scoring with a powerful header from Jordan Ayew's pinpoint free-kick.
53rd minute: The duo combined again as Partey nodded home Ayew's corner.
58th minute: Newly appointed captain Jordan Ayew turned provider once more, threading a perfect through ball for Mohammed Kudus to seal the victory.

Partey's double marked a dominant performance for Ghana.

Ivory Coast Edges Gambia to Top Group F

Reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, Ivory Coast, secured a nervy 1-0 home win against The Gambia, thanks to Sebastien Haller's first-half header. The Elephants now lead Group F, one point ahead of Gabon.

15th minute: Brighton winger Simon Adingra delivered a sublime cross for Haller to glance home.
Key moments: Goalkeeper Yahia Fofana made crucial saves to deny The Gambia a late equalizer.

Despite their unbeaten run, Ivory Coast struggled for fluency, raising questions about their consistency ahead of tougher fixtures.

Other Key Results in African Qualifiers

Burkina Faso moved within two points of Egypt in Group A after a 2-1 win over Guinea-Bissau.
Namibia held Equatorial Guinea 1-1, staying a point behind Tunisia in Group H.
Liberia defeated São Tomé e Príncipe 2-1 to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

Road to the 2026 World Cup

With nine group winners securing automatic spots and four best runners-up entering playoffs, the race for Africa's World Cup berths remains intense. Key fixtures to watch: