FIFA WCQ: Heartbreak for Ghana’s Black Stars as Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Kudus fail vs 175th ranked minnows Chad

Ghana’s Black Stars endured a frustrating World Cup qualifier as star forwards Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, and Inaki Williams struggled to make an impact, resulting in a disappointing 1-1 draw against 175th ranked Chad Republic in N’Djamena.

The result is the first shock of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in this window, with Ghana conceding a late equaliser to a team ranked well below them in the global standings.

Despite fielding key attackers like Bournemouth's superstar Semenyo, Kudus, and Williams, the Black Stars were unable to secure all three points, dropping valuable points in their qualifying campaign.

The match began cautiously, with both sides probing early on. Ghana eventually took the lead in the 17th minute through Jordan Ayew, the younger of the Ayew brothers, who finished expertly after a slick assist from Mohammed Kudus. The goal seemed to put the Black Stars in control as they pushed for a second.

Antoine Semenyo came close to doubling the advantage, nearly setting up Caleb Yirenkyi in the box before shooting wide himself. Ayew also found Semenyo with a promising chance near halftime, but the striker failed to convert. Ghana maintained their 1-0 lead going into the break.

In the second half, Ghana continued to dominate possession and created further chances. Kudus, in particular, was lively, narrowly missing a shot from Caleb Yirenkyi’s pass around the 68th minute.

Around the 77th minute, Ghana made substitutions to inject fresh energy: Christopher Bonsu Baah and Kamaldeen Sulemana came on for Semenyo and Inaki Williams, followed by Ibrahim Osman replacing Kudus in the 86th minute. However, the changes could not prevent a late setback.

Just three minutes after Kudus’s exit, Chad capitalised on a defensive lapse to score a late equalizer, leaving the Black Stars to settle for a 1-1 draw in the heart of their qualifying group.

The result raises questions about Ghana’s attacking efficiency and defensive resilience as they continue their quest to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars will now look to regroup and address their shortcomings ahead of the upcoming qualifiers at home against Mali.