Cape Town ¨C Ghana¡¯s Thomas Partey scored twice and Mohammed Kudus grabbed another as their side eased to a 3-0 win over Madagascar in a World Cup qualifier played in neutral Morocco on Monday to take a sizeable step toward a place at the tournament next year.

Ghana did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in a surprise failure that stunned the continent, but the side is well on course for a place at the 48-team World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The team has 15 points from six games in Group I, five ahead of second-placed Madagascar and six more than Mali in third with four rounds to play.

The top team in each of the nine groups earns a place at the global event, while the four best runners-up enter an arduous intercontinental playoff campaign for one further berth.

Partey netted two headers before Kudus provided a neat finish from a pass by Jordan Ayew, who set up all three goals.

Mali was held to a 0-0 draw by Central African Republic in a blow to its chances in Group I.

Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller scored with a header from Simon Adingra¡¯s cross as his side edged Gambia 1-0 in Abidjan to return to the top of Group F.

The team is a point ahead of second-placed Gabon and has yet to concede a goal six games into its campaign.

Tunisia substitute Seifeddine Jaziri netted a header after 87 minutes and Elias Achouri added an injury-time penalty to end the stubborn resistance of 10-man Malawi in a 2-0 win in Rades.

Tunisia head Group H with 16 points from six games after Malawi¡¯s Lloyd Aaron received a second yellow card after 64 minutes.

Second-placed Namibia is four points off the pace after being held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in neutral South Africa. Peter Shalulile gave the Namibians the lead after 51 minutes but Saul Coco equalized three minutes later.

Liberia beat minnows Sao Tome e Principe 2-1 in the other game in the pool.

Lassina Traore scored twice as Burkina Faso won 2-1 at Guinea-Bissau to keep the heat on Group A leaders Egypt. The Burkinabe are within two points of the Egyptians but have played a game more. The latter host Sierra Leone on Tuesday.

Abubeker Nasir scored a hat trick as Ethiopia trounced Djibouti 6-1 in the other match in Group A.