Mohammed Salisu of Ghana celebrates goal with teammates Jordan Ayew and Alexander Djiku during the 2026 World Cup Qualifier football match between Central African Republic and Ghana at Honneur Stadium in Meknes, Morocco on 8 October 2025 ©Nour Aknajja/BackpagePix
Saturday Mar 28, 2026. 10:12
Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations began on the wrong foot on Friday as the Black Stars lost to Austria 5-1 at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna, Austria.
The Black Stars were utterly outclassed by their opposition, crumbling in the second half.
Marcel Sabitzer opened the scoring in the 13th minute from the penalty spot, providing the only goal of the first half which proved to be a far more tightly contested period than the second half.
In the second half Michael Gregoritsch and Stefan Posch struck in quick succession to extend Austria’s lead, netting in the 51st and 58th minutes respectively.
The visitors pulled one back through veteran Jordan Ayew in the 77th minute, but his effort was all but erased as Carney Chukwuemeka found the back of the net two minutes later on his debut.
Nicolas Seiwald added Austria’s fifth in second half stoppage time as the Black Stars were unable to rally or find an answer.
Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo was kept quiet, managing only one shot which he could not guide on target.
Auxerre centre-back Marvin Senaya came off the bench in the 70th minute for his international debut for the Black Stars and 22-year-old Ibrahim Sulemana provided the assist for Ayew’s 77th minute goal after also coming off the bench in the 70th minute.
Ghana will look to bounce back against Germany as the two sides meet at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on Monday.