Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has assured Ghanaians that his side is prepared to deliver a much-improved performance when they face Mali in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday night.
Ghana dropped valuable points last Thursday after conceding late in N’Djamena to draw 1-1 with Chad, a result that left the team disappointed.
Addo, however, believes the squad has learned from that experience and is determined to respond.
“The whole team, everybody was very disappointed after the draw in Chad. The expectation was high for us to win, and we were disappointed. We analysed the game very well and hope that we learned out of this,” the coach said during his pre-match press conference at the stadium’s Media Centre.
Addo also highlighted the importance of home advantage, stressing that playing under the floodlights and on natural grass at the Accra Sports Stadium will favour his side.
“I’m very, very sure we’ll show another face here in front of the crowd. Surely it’s easier to play at home with our spectators supporting us, pushing our last percentage out of the bodies of the players, but also to play in the evening on grass. I expect a different face of the players,” he added.
With three games left in Group I, Ghana leads the standings with 16 points. Comoros trail closely with 15, while Madagascar sits third on 13 points. Mali, who remain four points behind Ghana, have 12, followed by the Central African Republic with 5 and Chad with 1.
Despite the pressure, Addo insists that Ghana’s fate is firmly within their control but acknowledged the threat posed by the Eagles of Mali. “Our qualification hopes are still in our hands,” he noted, while warning that Mali will be “a difficult challenge.”
The much-anticipated clash kicks off at 19:00 GMT, with both teams aware that the outcome could shape the race to secure a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico
