November 17, (THEWILL) – A last gasp winner from Inaki Williams, saw Ghana clinch a dramatic 1-0 victory over a stubborn Madagascar side in the opening match of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday night.
Playing at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, the home side were made to work hard by a well-drilled Madagascar outfit. The visitors started brightly and dominated the early exchanges, pinning Ghana back for long periods. However, they were unable to make their possession count with clear chances few and far between.
Ghana grew into the game as the first half wore on and ended the stronger of the two teams. Still, the deadlock remained intact at the interval after a tight, tactical opening 45 minutes.
The second period followed a similar pattern with neither team able to assert their authority. With the game drifting towards a goalless draw, Williams popped up in the 96th minute to head home a last gasp winner and break Malagasy hearts.
The Athletic Bilbao striker’s goal sparked wild scenes of celebration amongst the home supporters and handed Ghana a vital three points to kick-start their qualifying campaign.
