President John Dramani Mahama has congratulated the senior national team, the Black Stars, on securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Black Stars sealed their spot with a 1-0 victory over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium in their final Group I qualifier. A second-half strike from Mohammed Kudus made the difference as Ghana booked their fifth World Cup appearance in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Ghana topped Group I with 25 points. Madagascar followed with 19 points, Mali placed third with 18, Comoros finished fourth on 15, the Central African Republic earned eight points, and Chad ended bottom with one.

In a separate development, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also extended his congratulations to the Black Stars following their historic qualification.

In a message, Infantino praised the players’ dedication, passion and commitment to representing Ghana on the global stage.

“Congratulations to the Black Stars on reaching the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time in history,” he said. “Your fans will bring colour, style and passion to the greatest FIFA World Cup ever in 2026, and we expect that your team will establish more global stars to follow in the footsteps of the famous squad that made the quarterfinals in South Africa in 2010.”

Infantino’s message is seen as a major morale boost for the team, whose qualification underscores the continued growth and development of Ghanaian football. The nation now looks forward to seeing its heroes perform on the world stage.

The final tournament draw is scheduled for December 5, and Infantino expressed excitement about who Ghana will face in the competition.