It is a straight fight between Ghana, Madagascar and Comoros as the three teams are separated by just four points with just two games to end the qualifiers.
Mali, the Central African Republic and Chad have mathematically been eliminated, and their meetings are just dead rubbers.
Week 8 of Group I commences on Wednesday with all three games set to kick off at 4 pm across the various venues. Ghana travels to Morocco while Comoros and Madagascar battle in Abidjan.
Central African Republic v Ghana
Central African Republic will host Ghana at Meknes’ Stade d’Honneur de Meknes in the Northern central part of Morocco. The fixture is so important to Ghana that a victory will help the Black Stars be on the brink of winning the sole slot.
Head coach Otto Addo is optimistic that the Black Stars will beat CAR and put their rivals in a tight corner.
Central African Republic have won just once, drawn two and lost five of their eight games played.
Head coach of CAR, Rigobert Song, has his heart set on the qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON as his side has no chance to progress to the 2026 World Cup and will use the last two games as preparations for next year.
Ghana’s stars are in fine form with Semenyo, Kudus, Issahaku, Jordan Ayew, Partey and Benjamin Asare all fully fit and ready to fire Ghana to victory.
Comoros v Madagascar
The biggest game in the group will definitely be the one between Comoros and Madagascar at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
Whoever wins will keep chasing Ghana, especially second-place Madagascar, which is just three points behind Ghana. Both sides have won five games each and will be proud of their achievements, even though their mission is not accomplished yet.
Madagascar’s decision to part ways with French tactician Corentin Martins, with Romuald Rakotondrade, has been successful so far after leading the minnows to the finals of the 2025 CHAN in Tanzania-Uganda-Kenya, where they lost to Morocco 3-2. Wednesday will be the 99th day at the office for him, and a victory will be an exciting moment for Malagasy.
Comoros will need a win and also hope that Ghana will fall against CAR in Meknes to stand any chance of doing the unthinkable.
Chad v Mali
At the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, Tom Saintfiet’s Mali will face Chad. Chad will be buoyed by their 1-1 draw at home against Ghana, which could be their best result since the turn of the 21st century.
Mali has always flatter to deceive and must start preparations for the 2025 AFCON in late December and early January. With all the star names available, the Eagles of Mali continue to struggle and must win to boost their confidence.
Group I standings after 8 games
- Ghana, 19 points
- Madagascar, 16 points
- Comoros, 15 points
- Mali, 12 points
- Central African Republic, 5 points
- Chad, 1 point
