Ghana’s Black Stars stand on the brink of another glorious chapter in their football history as they prepare to host Comoros tomorrow evening, with a carnival-like atmosphere expected at a packed Accra Sports Stadium as Otto Addo’s men look to book their ticket to the USA, Mexico and Canada – and settle an old score in the process.

Ghanaian fans will be in festive mood ready to roar the national team to a fifth World Cup appearance and erase the painful memory of last November’s shock 0-1 defeat to Comoros in Moroni, which cast serious doubt over the Black Stars’ qualification hopes at the time, and raised questions over a team that had also struggled to edge Madagascar in their opening game in Kumasi.

However, the Black Stars have hit their stride when it mattered most after an inconsistent start on the road. Last Wednesday’s emphatic 5-0 demolition of the Central African Republic in Meknes, Morocco, virtually sealed Ghana’s passage to the World Cup. Otto Addo’s side now sit comfortably atop Group I with 22 points — three clear of second-placed Madagascar, who face Mali away tomorrow.

Mathematically, Madagascar still have the faintest of hopes, but only if they can conjure an improbable 8-0 win in Bamako and Ghana suffer a heavy home defeat in Accra. In reality, though, the Black Stars’ destiny appears all but sealed. They have peaked at precisely the right moment and poised to complete their qualification in grand style.

Following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mali last month and the emphatic 5-0 drubbing of the Central African Republic, confidence within the Ghanaian camp is at an all-time high.

Captain Jordan Ayew, enjoying the most prolific spell of his international career with an astonishing 14 goal involvements in the campaign — seven goals and seven assists — leads a side brimming with form, flair and belief.

Mohammed Kudus, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Thomas Partey, Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku and the industrious midfielder Kwasi Sibo have all found top gear, while goalkeeper Benjamin Asare has been one of the revelations of the campaign, displacing the experienced Lawrence Ati-Zigi to become the team’s undisputed No.1 and a symbol of their renewed confidence.

Despite a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, Otto Addo has reaffirmed his reputation as Ghana’s master of World Cup qualification.

The 50-year-old tactician, who proudly represented the Black Stars during their maiden World Cup appearance in Germany in 2006, now stands on the brink of making history as the first coach to guide Ghana to back-to-back World Cup tournaments after steering the team to Qatar 2022.

The coach, who took over from Chris Hughton, delivered when it mattered most. After a nervy 4-3 wwin over the Central African Republic in Kumasi in June last year, Ghana showed their fighting spirit with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win away to Mali, reigniting belief and restoring Ghana to the summit of Group I.

A miserable showing in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers saw Ghana finish bottom of their group and miss out on the continental showpiece for the first time in over two decades.

Calls for Otto Addo’s dismissal grew louder, but the GFA’s decision to stick with the gaffer has been vindicated in emphatic fashion.  

When the World Cup qualifiers resumed, Ghana responded with emphatic intent with a 5-0 demolition of Chad in Accra, followed by a ruthless 3-0 victory over Madagascar in Morocco.

A late lapse in N’Djamena, where the team conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to lowly Chad, briefly stalled momentum, but they quickly rediscovered their rhythm with a gritty 1-0 win over Mali days later in Accra, which put the campaign firmly back on track. 

All roads now lead to the Accra Sports Stadium, where Jordan Ayew and his men are poised to finish the job in emphatic fashion.