World Cup: Ghana gets Madagascar, CAR as Mali joins group

Ghana has been pitched against familiar foes in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with both Madagascar and the Central African Republic getting into Group I alongside the Black Stars. The three are currently in Group E in the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers where the Black Stars currently lead and are well-positioned to make it to the tournament.

However, as the teams gear up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have been pitted against one another again and would this time have Chad, Comoros and Mali joining them in the six-team group. The winner of the group automatically qualifies for the 2026 World Cup. The four best second-placed teams will enter a play-off for a candidate to be selected for the Intercontinental play-off.

Angola who are in the same AFCON qualifying group as the Black Stars are pitted in Group D with Cameroon, Cape Verde, Libya, Eswantini and Mauritius. Meanwhile, Ghana’s bitter-sweet rivals Nigeria will have to find their way out of Group C where they will face South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho.