Comoros narrowed the gap to leaders Ghana in Group I after a confident 2–0 victory over the Central African Republic on Sunday, starting Round Eight of CAF World Cup qualifying and increasing pressure on the Black Stars ahead of Monday’s games.
In the only CAF qualifier that day, Comoros secured the win, moving up to second place in the group and confirming Central African Republic’s exit from the 2026 World Cup race. The match, held in Meknès, was decided in the first half by key performances from Youssouf M’Changama and Myziane Maolida, helping Comoros recover from a previous 3–0 loss to Mali.
Comoros beat CAR to move second, tighten race with Ghana
Central African Republic began strongly and almost scored early when Moustapha Djimet’s header hit the post at 15 minutes. Comoros then settled and scored with their first clear chance: a smooth move by Rafiki Saïd Ahumada set up Maolida, who laid the ball off to M’Changama, whose powerful long-range shot found the net at 20 minutes.
Comoros doubled their lead just before halftime. Faïz Selemani crossed from the right, and Maolida held his marker off to score decisively at 39 minutes, securing a lead they would protect through solid game management.
Though Central African Republic dominated possession in the second half, they struggled to create significant chances as Comoros defended calmly, particularly handling aerial threats and set-pieces well.
This victory brings Comoros to 15 points from eight matches (11 goals scored, 10 conceded), just one point behind Ghana, who have 16 points from seven games. Madagascar (13 points from seven) and Mali (12 points from seven) remain strong contenders, while Central African Republic remain in fifth place with 5 points, and Chad sit last with one point after seven matches.
Only the group winners qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the four best runners-up entering an African playoff for a place in the inter-confederation tournament, making every point in the final rounds critical.
Round Eight continues on Monday with Ghana hosting Mali in Accra and Madagascar facing Chad in Antananarivo, matches that could further impact the tight group standings.
For Comoros, this result was a composed recovery from their midweek setback and a step toward their potential first-ever World Cup appearance. For Central African Republic, the remainder of the campaign is now about finishing with pride.