2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS PREVIEW: GHANA VS COMOROS; BLACK STARS EYE WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION TONIGHT

• By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh

Predictions: Home win/draw

The Black Stars of Ghana are set to lock horns with the Coelacanths of Comoros in their round 10 CAF FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Accra Sports Stadium, promising an electrifying encounter on Sunday, October 12, 2025, night in Accra

Ghana's Black Stars have home advantage, a significant boost, and are riding high on a 5-0 thrashing of the Central African Republic in their last qualifier. The team boasts a talented squad, adding to their strengths.

Comoros suffered a 1-2 loss to Madagascar in their last match, exposing their inconsistent form in the World Cup qualifiers. Up against Ghana, the visitors face an uphill battle.

Jordan Ayew is set to play a crucial role for Ghana once more, having found the back of the net in their previous World Cup qualifier. His attacking prowess will pose a threat to the opposing team's defense.

Rafiki Said leads Comoros' attack from the left, looking to build on his previous goal. He'll need to rise to the occasion if the visitors are to have any hope of beating Ghana.

Ghana leads their group with 22 points after nine games played, while Comoros, with 15 points, sits in fourth position on the table.       

• Head-to-Head

• Friday, November 13, 2015 (World Cup Qualifiers) [second round]

Venue: Stade International Said Mohamed Cheikh, Mitsamiouli

Comoros                        0-0 Ghana

Manager: Amiredine Abdou (Comoros)//Avram Grant (Ghana)

• Tuesday, November 17, 2015 (World Cup Qualifiers) [second round]

Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium

Ghana                             2-0 Comoros

Mubarak Wakaso 18', Jordan Ayew 85'

Manager: Avram Grant (Ghana)//Amiredine Abdou (Comoros)

• Tuesday, January 18, 2022 (2021 AFCON) [Group C]

Venue: Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde - Cameroon

Ghana                             2-3 Comoros

Richmond Boakye 64', Alexander Djiku 77'//El Fardou Ben Nabouhane 4', Ahmed Mogni (brace) 62', 85'

NB: Andre Dede Ayew (Ghana) was red carded on the 25th minute.

Manager: Milovan Rajevac (Ghana) //AmiredineAbdou (Comoros)

• Tuesday, November 21, 2023 (2026 World Cup Qualifiers) [Group I]

Venue: Stade International de Mitsamihuli - Moroni

Comoros                        1-0 Ghana

Myziane Maolida 43'

Manager: Stefano Cusin (Comoros) //Chris Hughton (Ghana)     

Total matches played      - 4

Ghana wins                        - 1

Goals scored                     - 4

Comoros wins                   - 2

Goals scored                     - 4

Drawn games                    - 1                                                    

Ghana's winless Record Against Comoros:

• The Ghana Black Stars remain winless in their last two games against the Coelacanths of Comoros (L2 GF2 GA4).

• Match Facts:

• The Black Stars of Ghana are ranked 76th in the FIFA rankings (July 10, 2025).

- Their first International game was 28th May, 1950 (Gold Coast and British Togoland 1-0 Nigeria) [Accra, British Gold Coast].

• The Coelacanths of Comoros are ranked 105 by FIFA latest rankings (September 18, 2025).

- Their first International game was played on August 26, 1979 (Mauritius 3-0 Comoros) [Saint-Denis, Reunion].

Player Records:

• Ghana's most caps player: Andre Dede Ayew (120 caps, 24 goals).

• Comoros' most caps player: Youssouf M'Changama (71 caps, 14 goals).

• Ghana's all-time top scorer: Asamoah Gyan (51 goals, 109 caps).

• Comoros' all-time top scorer: Ben Nabouhane (19 goals, 42 caps).

Team Information:

• Ghana is located in West Africa and is part of the WAFU Regional Federation.

• Comoros is located in Southern Africa and is part of the COSAFA Regional Federation.

• The Ghana Black Stars' first participation in the World Cup Qualifiers was in the 1962 Chile World Cup Qualifiers, where they were eliminated by Morocco. The 2026 World Cup Qualifiers marks Ghana's 12th appearance in the competition.

• The Comoros Football Federation was founded in 1979 and became affiliated with CAF in 2003 and FIFA in 2005. Comoros' first participation in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers was in the 2010 South Africa World Cup Qualifiers, where they were eliminated in the first round by Madagascar in a 10-2 aggregate. The 2026 World Cup Qualifiers marks Comoro' 5th appearance in the competition.

• Comoros won their first World Cup Qualifier game on November 17, 2023 against Central African Republic in match Day 1 of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Comoros                        4-2 Central African Republic

Kassim M'Dahoma 29', Youssouf M'Changama 50', Rafiki Said 58', Myziane Maolida 67'//Abdel-Hakim Abdallah 10' (OG), Younn Zahary 74' (OG)

• Comoros qualified for their first major tournament in 2021, after their 0-0 draw with Togo assured them of a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

World Cup Qualifiers Records:

Ghana

• Number of appearances: 12

• Games played:               99

• Wins:                                50

• Draws:                              26

• Losses:                            23

• Goals scored:                162

• Goals conceded:            77

Comoros

• Number of appearances:                    5

• Games played:                19

• Wins:                                 5

• Draws:                              4

• Losses:                             10

• Goals scored:                  17

• Goals conceded:            33

Additional Facts:

• 41 out of 54 active FIFA and CAF members have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup final tournament since its inception in 1930.

• Ghana's first appearance at the Final tournament of the World Cup was 2006 and so far have 4 appearances (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022).

• Ghana's best performance in the World Cup tournament was reaching the Quarter-finals in 2010 in South Africa.

Team Debuts

• 1934: Egypt

• 1970: Morocco

• 1974: DR Congo (Zaire)

• 1978: Tunisia

• 1982: Algeria & Cameroon

• 1994: Nigeria

• 1998: South Africa

• 2002: Senegal

• 2006: Ghana, Angola, Ivory Coast & Togo

Comoros' Qualification Record:

Note that Comoros has failed to qualify for the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup in their five attempts in the qualifiers.

Ghana's World Cup Qualifiers Record at Home:

• Ghana's first World Cup Qualifiers game at home was against Nigeria in the qualification for the 1962 Chile World Cup.

- August 28, 1960 (1st leg): Ghana 4-1 Nigeria (Edward Acquah 18', Edward Boateng 44', Aggry Fynn 54', Mohammed Salisu 55')

- September 10, 1960 (2nd leg): Nigeria 2-2 Ghana (Godwin Enemako, Dejo Fayemi//Sam Acquah 2x)

Ghana's Squad

The Ghanaian squad for the 1962 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria included:

Aduquaye Laryea (GK), Abeka Ankrah, Aggry Fynn, Baba Yara, Emmanuel Oblitey, Athayi Tanko, Charles Addo Odamptey (capt), Edward Boateng, Mohammed Salisu, Ben Acheampong Simmons, and Edward Acquah.

Record at Home

• Ghana has played 49 World Cup Qualifiers games at home since their first attempt for the 1962 Chile World Cup, with a record of W34 D13 L2 GF102 GA25.

• Only two countries have beaten Ghana at home in World Cup Qualifiers since 1961.

Specific Matches:

• Qualification to France 1998 World Cup

August 17, 1997

Venue: Obuasi Len Clay Sports Stadium

Ghana                             0-2 Sierra Leone

Abubakar Camara, Mohammed Kalloum

NB: Ghana squad: Leonard Moffat (GK), Adjetey Lee, Edward Agyemang Duah, Joe Okyere, Princeton Owusu Ansah, Yaw Owusu, Isaac Quinoo, Richard Ackon, Eben Dadzie, Joe Debrah. Ghana replaced Leonard Moffat for Richard Obimpeh.

• In that year, Coach Herbert Addo took over from Coach Rinus Israel's team, which had played the first leg in Freetown and ended in a 1-1 draw.

• Ghana’s squad for the first leg: Simon Addo, Frank Amankwaa, Patrick Allotey, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Mohammed Gargo, Sam Johnson, Christian Sabbah, Arthur Moses/Kwame Ayew, Tony Yeboah/Mallam Yahya, Abedi Pele, C.K. Akunnor

• Qualification to South Korea and Japan 2002 World Cup

January 28, 2001

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium

Ghana                             1-3 Liberia

Emmanuel Duah//Frank Seator, Oliver Makor, Shannon Musah

NB: Liberia team was led by the veteran George Oppong Weah

• Ghana squad: Richard Kingston, Stephen Baidoo, Jacob Nettey, Sammy Kuffour, Sam Johnson, Mark Edusei, Otto Addo/Yaw Preko, Stephen Appiah, Charles Amoah/Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, C. K. Akonnor, Emmanuel Duah

Comoros' World Cup Qualifiers Away Record

• Comoros has played 9 World Cup Qualifiers games away since their first attempt for the 2010 South Africa World Cup, with a record of W2 D1 L6 GF9 GA20.

Away Wins

• Comoros has been able to beat only two countries away in World Cup Qualifiers since their first attempt for the Germany 2006 World Cup.

- Qualification to Germany 2006 World Cup

June 11, 2024

Venue: Stade Municipal, Oujda - Morocco

Chad                                0-2 Comoros

Myziane Maolida 59', El Fardou Ben Nabouhane 76'

- Qualification to 2026 World Cup September 7, 2025

     Venue: Meknes Honor Stadium, Morocco

Central African Republic 0-2 Comoros

Youssouf M'Changama 20', Myziane Maolida 39'

World Cup Qualifiers games in October:

Ghana's World Cup Qualifiers Record in October:

- Ghana have played 11 World Cup Qualifiers games in October since 1960 (W7 D2 L2 GF25 GA6):

    - October 10, 1976: Ghana                             2-1 Guinea

    - October 24, 1976: Guinea                            2-1 Ghana

    - October 10, 2004: Ghana                             0-0 DR Congo

    - October 8, 2005: Cape Verde                    0-4 Ghana

    - October 11, 2008: Ghana                             3-0 Lesotho

- October 11, 2009: Benin                          1-0 Ghana

    - October 15, 2013: Ghana                             6-1 Egypt

-  October 7, 2016: Ghana                        0-0 Uganda

- October 9, 2021: Ghana                        3-1 Zimbabwe

- October 12, 2021: Zimbabwe                 0-1 Ghana

- October 8, 2025: Central African Republic 0-5 Ghana

Comoros' Record:

Comoros' World Cup Qualifiers Record in October.

• Comoros lost their only World Cup Qualifiers game played in the month of October since 2005 (L1 GF0 GA1).

- October 8, 2025: Comoros 1-2 Madagascar

Two Nations' Games on October 12:

Ghana's Record on October 12.

. Ghana has won all their games played on October 12 in all competitions since 1960 (W2 GF6 GA1).

• Monday, October 12, 2020 (International friendly)

Venue: Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey

Ghana                             5-1 Qatar

Tarique Fosu Henry 22',

Andre Dede Ayew (brace) 63' 85', Samuel Owusu 65', Caleb Ekuban 87'//Almoez Ali 44'

• Tuesday, October 12, 2021 (2022 World Cup Qualifiers) [Group G]

Venue: National Sports Stadium

Zimbabwe                      0-1 Ghana

Thomas Teye Partey 31'

Comoros' Record on October 12.

• Comoros won their only game played on October 12 in all competitions since 1979.

• October 12, 2019 (International Friendly)

Venue: Municipal Stadium Montbauron in Versailles, France

Guinea                            0-1 Comoros

El Fardou Ben Nabouhane 70'

Recent Performance

Ghana's Recent Performance:

- Ghana Black Stars are unbeaten in their last seven FIFA World Cup qualifiers (W6 D1 GF21 GA5):

    - June 6, 2024: Mali                            1-2 Ghana

    - June 10, 2024: Ghana                           4-3 Central African Republic

    - March 21, 2025: Ghana                             5-0 Chad

    - March 24, 2025: Madagascar                  0-3 Ghana -

- September 4, 2025: Chad                           1-1 Ghana

- September 8, 2025: Ghana                        1-0 Mali

- October 8, 2025: Central African Republic 0-5

Ghana's Recent Loss

• The last time the Black Stars of Ghana lost a game in a World Cup qualifier was November 21, 2023, when Comoros won 1-0 in a Group I fixture courtesy of Maolida Myziane at the Stade de Moroni.

Comoros' Recent Performance

The Coelacanths of Comoros has scored in each of their last two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers games (W1 L1 GF3 GA2).

- September 7, 2025: Central African Republic 0-2 Comoros

- October 8, 2025: Comoros 1-2 Madagascar

• Ghana tops Group I with 22 points after Match Day 9, while Comoros, on the other hand, sits in fourth place with 15 points in the World Cup Qualifiers log.