Despite leading Group I with 19 points, Ghana’s Black Stars face mounting pressure from fans and stakeholders to win their remaining two matches and book their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by three nations.

Black Stars’ second-to-last World Cup clash comes off today, Wednesday, October 8, against the Central African Republic (CAR), and speaking ahead of the game in a pre-match press conference in Meknès, Morocco, the team’s head coach Otto Addo highlighted that, “the so-called pressure that we have right now is normal,” Addo told reporters.

However, he recommended an early goal for his side to reduce the pressure. “I’m just hoping that we can have an early goal; it will make things easier,” while expressing confidence in his squad to give the best results largely expected in the matches.

“When we are first and just two matches to go, it’s expected. The players are experienced enough. Surely, we have some young ones, but we also have experienced players who will guide them,” he said.

He continued that, despite their position in Group I, there is a need for the team to maintain their stability and be consistent as the qualifiers draw to a close.

“Consistency is the key to success. If you make too many changes, it’s difficult for the players to connect,” he said.

The Black Stars’ encounter against the Central African Republic kicks off at 16:00 GMT. The four-time African champions will play the match at the Stade d’Honneur in Morocco. They will conclude their qualifying campaign on Sunday, October 12, when they host Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Otto Addo has finalised his squad for the double-header. He released the squad list yesterday, October 2, with the official list. Following the clash with CAR, the Black Stars will return to Accra to host Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, in their final qualifier.

Full Squad Overview

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen), Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Defenders: Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjælland), Kojo Peprah Oppong (OGC Nice)

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal CF), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Prince Owusu (Medeama SC)

Forwards: Inaki Williams (Athletic Club), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth), Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al-Qadsiah)

In a related development, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation has released ticket prices ahead of Ghana’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Comoros.

The game will be hosted at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday at 19:00 GMT.

The prices, which were announced in an official statement, detailed that “Tickets for the Ghana versus Comoros match are priced as follows: VVIP – GH¢1,000, Upper VIP – GH¢500, Lower VIP – GH¢250, Centre Line – GH¢100, and Popular Stand – GH¢50.”

The Minister also explained that “the pricing structure is designed to make the game accessible to fans from all walks of life.”

Meanwhile, the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, announced a change in the Black Stars’ camping arrangements.

Black Stars, who were originally scheduled to assemble and camp in Accra, headed straight to Morocco to camp for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR).

The change in plans, according to the Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, during an appearance on Woezor TV, was to allow the players more recovery time and to avoid logistical challenges.

In the interview, he explained that the decision to camp directly in Morocco was taken after consultations to ensure players had adequate rest and to avoid the logistical strain of flying from Accra just days before the match

“Various discussions have been held, and I can confirm that there is a proposal that the players will report to Morocco instead of Accra because we don’t have enough time to prepare for the game,” he said.

He explained that since most of the players will be in action for their clubs over the weekend, they are expected to report to camp on Sunday, with the last group arriving on Monday.

“These players will play for their respective clubs this weekend, so we are expecting that the players will report to camp on Sunday and then the last badge of players are expected on Monday since the game is on a Wednesday so if they reports to Accra, they will have to be flown to Morocco either on Monday or Tuesday which will be a lot of work because the players will not have enough time and space to rest in between the period and some of the players will be coming from a far disctance so the last meeting we had, we proposed that we will meet in Morocco instead of meeting in Accra before flying to Morocco and that what is being firmed up,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian attacking midfielder and Tottenham Hotspur star Mohammed Kudus has expressed optimism about the Black Stars’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Kudus said the squad, including himself, is heading in the right direction and will do everything possible to secure qualification.

“We have to qualify at all costs. I think we are on the right path now. Obviously, AFCON is also one of the major tournaments that the country loves and wants to participate in. Not qualifying was a big disappointment, but I think the full focus now is on the World Cup qualifiers,” Kudus said.

He highlighted that the current Black Stars squad are competent enough to replicate and even go beyond what their predecessors did about a decade and a half ago when they sailed through to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup tournament.

“2010, we went all the way to the quarterfinals. And I believe this squad can even do more than that. But first we have to qualify, and then we can focus on the tournament itself.”