Ghana staged an exhilarating comeback to secure a thrilling victory over the Central African Republic in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Monday.
Jordan Ayew initially gave Ghana the lead from the penalty spot, but the home side was caught off guard as the Central African Republic surged ahead with a 2-1 lead at halftime, courtesy of a brace by Louis Mafouta.
In the second half, Ghana elevated their performance, with Jordan Ayew and Fatawu Issahaku netting three goals in just nine minutes, swiftly turning the tide in their favor. Despite Louis Mafouta completing his hat-trick with a stunning strike, Ghana managed to secure three vital points, propelling them to the top of the qualifying group.
Here are the player ratings for the Black Stars from the match against the Central African Republic:
Goalkeeper:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi: 5/10 – Could have performed better to prevent some of the goals.
Defenders:
Gideon Mensah: 7/10 – Despite shortcomings, provided a brilliant assist.
Alexander Djiku: 6/10 – Struggled with the pace of the Central African Republic attackers but held firm.
Mohammed Salisu: 6/10 – Faced defensive challenges and beaten for pace on occasions.
Alidu Seidu: 6/10 – Tough-tackling performance but caught out of position at times.
Midfielders:
Thomas Partey: 7/10 – Controlled the midfield and contributed an assist crucial for the comeback.
Mohammed Kudus: 8/10 – Dynamic performance, heavily involved in Ghana’s attacking maneuvers.
Salis Abdul Samed: 7/10 – Put in a hardworking shift off the ball.
Forwards:
Jordan Ayew: 9/10 – Man of the Match. Led by example with a hat-trick and exceptional leadership.
Fatawu Issahaku: 8/10 – Scored a vital goal and posed a constant threat on the wing.
Kamaldeen Sulemana: 6/10 – Industrious but lacked the final product in the attacking third.
Substitutes:
Brandon Thomas-Asante: 5/10 – Contributed defensively after coming on late.
Tariq Lamptey: 6/10 – Added energy to the midfield and aided in maintaining possession.
Antoine Semenyo: 6/10 – Provided fresh legs and injected pace in the attack.
2026 World Cup Qualifier: Black Stars player ratings against Central African Republic
