Mohammed Kudus shone for Ghana as they took a huge step towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Mali in Group I of the CAF qualifiers.
The flying forward, who has started the season so well in Lilywhite since his summer move from West Ham United, was at the heart of most of The Black Stars good moments on what was his 44th cap.
Always an outlet down the right flank, it was his pace and trickery on the stroke of half-time that saw him get to the byline and whip over a cross which Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo fired wide on the turn, their best chance of the half.
Ghana, who have qualified for four of the last five World Cups, took the lead in the 49th minute when Alexander Djiku converted Jordan Ayew’s corner at the back post. Moments later, Kudus burst through midfield and saw a shot deflected for a corner.
The forward eventually made way for Joseph Paintsil in the 80th minute and Ghana held firm to pick up the win which moves them three points clear at the top of their group with two matches to play.
Another Spur who enjoyed their evening was Mathys Tel, who scored twice as he captained France Under-21s to a convincing 3-0 friendly win over their Serbia counterparts. The forward struck a magnificent left-footed curler from the edge of the area to give France a second-minute lead and, after Louis Leroux added a second, Tel netted again deep into stoppage time. Both he and Wilson Odobert featured for the full 90 minutes.
It was a good night for Archie Gray, who played the full game as England Under-21s got their 2027 European U21 Championship qualifying campaign off to the perfect start. The teenager featured in two different positions during the 2-0 win away to Kazakhstan at the Ortalyq Stadion, starting at centre-back before moving to midfield when fellow Spur Ashley Phillips – on loan at Stoke City – entered the fray in the 76th minute.
Two goals in five first-half minutes from Ethan Nwaneri and Jobe Bellingham secured the points for the Young Lions in the Group D clash. Will Lankshear was an unused substitute.