In a stunning turn of events that has dented Ghana’s aspirations for automatic World Cup qualification, the Black Stars Of Ghana were held to a 1–1 draw by Chad on Thursday. The result, a historic first point of the campaign for the hosts, was sealed by an 89th-minute equalizer from Celestin Ecua, much to the delight of a packed and boisterous home crowd.
Ghana appeared to be in control early on. A piece of brilliant wing play from Mohammed Kudus in the 17th minute set up a simple tap-in for Jordan Ayew, giving the visitors a seemingly comfortable lead. The Black Stars created several opportunities to extend their advantage but were unable to find a second goal to put the game beyond doubt.
As the match progressed and Ghana’s focus shifted to protecting their narrow lead, Chad grew in confidence. The hosts, playing their first competitive home international on Chadian soil in six years, seized the moment. The newly inaugurated Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno Olympic Stadium provided a loud and emotional backdrop for Les Sao’s homecoming, which until now had been hampered by stadium issues and sanctions forcing them to play abroad.
The late equalizer from Celestin Ecua was a moment of catharsis for a team that has faced numerous challenges. It also marked a significant milestone for their new head coach, Raoul Savoy, who earned his first result since taking the job in mid-August. The match had been preceded by a debate over the pitch, with Ghana coach Otto Addo describing the surface as “like concrete” and calling for FIFA and CAF to enforce higher standards. Despite these misgivings, Chad made the occasion count and celebrated a hard-earned point against a formidable opponent.
