Ghana Demolishes Central African Republic in World Cup Qualifying Rout

The Black Stars of Ghana delivered a masterclass performance that left Central African Republic's World Cup dreams in tatters, cruising to a commanding 5-0 victory that showcased the gulf in class between the two African nations on Tuesday evening.

What began as a cautious affair transformed into a Ghana festival of goals after Mohammed Salisu broke the deadlock in the 21st minute. The Southampton defender, making his presence felt in the opposition box, connected with a perfectly weighted cross to nod home the opener that would set the tone for the evening's proceedings.

Central African Republic, already reeling from consecutive defeats to Comoros and Madagascar in their previous qualifying fixtures, found themselves chasing shadows as Ghana's midfield orchestrated proceedings with surgical precision. The visitors' defensive structure, which had shown resilience in patches during recent friendlies against Guinea and Niger, crumbled under the relentless pressure of a Ghana side that smelled blood in the water.

Second Half Sees Floodgates Open

The interval served only to sharpen Ghana's appetite for goals. Thomas Partey, the Arsenal midfielder whose leadership has become synonymous with Ghana's resurgence, doubled the advantage seven minutes into the second half. His trademark drive from the edge of the area left the Central African Republic goalkeeper with no chance, the ball nestling into the bottom corner with the precision that has made Partey indispensable to both club and country.

What followed was a clinic in clinical finishing. Alexander Djiku, the Fenerbahçe center-back who has transformed himself into an unlikely scoring threat, headed home Ghana's third in the 69th minute. The goal came at a crucial juncture when Central African Republic had begun to show fleeting signs of life, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a miraculous comeback.

Jordan Ayew, who had been Ghana's lone bright spot in their previous lackluster draw with Chad, added the fourth just three minutes later. The Crystal Palace forward's predatory instincts in the box proved the difference, as he pounced on a loose ball to further compound Central African Republic's misery.

Sulemana Caps Dominant Display

Kamaldeen Sulemana provided the coup de grâce in the 87th minute, his pace and trickery on the left flank creating the space needed to curl a beautiful effort beyond the reach of the despairing goalkeeper. The goal served as a fitting culmination to an afternoon where Ghana's attacking players operated with the freedom and confidence that had been absent in recent performances.

For Central African Republic, this result represents more than just a heavy defeat—it signals the potential end of their World Cup qualifying campaign before it has truly begun. Their inability to register a single shot on target speaks to the tactical and technical chasm that exists between themselves and Africa's established powers.

The statistics paint a stark picture of domination. Ghana registered 68% possession, completed 847 passes to Central African Republic's 312, and created 23 scoring opportunities compared to their opponents' meager four. These numbers reflect not just superior individual talent, but a cohesive tactical approach that has been missing from Ghana's repertoire in recent months.

Qualification Picture Clarifies

This emphatic victory propels Ghana to the summit of their qualifying group, though the path to the 2026 World Cup remains fraught with challenges. The Black Stars' previous struggles against supposedly inferior opposition had raised questions about their ability to navigate the qualifying process successfully. Tuesday's performance provided emphatic answers to those doubts.

Central African Republic, meanwhile, face the stark reality of needing near-miraculous results in their remaining fixtures to maintain any hope of qualification. Their goal difference has taken a significant hit, and the psychological impact of such a comprehensive defeat could prove devastating in future encounters.

As both teams prepare for the resumption of qualifying action, Ghana will carry the confidence that comes from rediscovering their scoring touch, while Central African Republic must somehow rebuild from the ruins of their World Cup ambitions.