Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has pledged that his side will rise to the occasion when they lock horns with Mali in a pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday night.
Currently, Ghana leads the group with 16 points, one clear of Comoros, who climbed to second after beating the Central African Republic earlier on Sunday. Madagascar follow closely on 13 points, Mali are fourth with 12, while the Central African Republic and Chad occupy the bottom spots with five and one point respectively
Speaking to journalists at the stadium’s Media Centre on Sunday, Addo acknowledged that the 1-1 draw against Chad in N’Djamena left both players and fans disappointed. He, however, stressed that the squad has taken lessons from the result and is ready to deliver a better performance.
“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,” Addo said.
The 49-year-old tactician believes the Black Stars will benefit greatly from home advantage and the playing conditions in Accra.
“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 noted.
While underlining that Ghana’s qualification hopes remain firmly in their control, Addo cautioned against underestimating Mali, who sit four points behind but remain dangerous opponents in Group I.
The Black Stars will be determined to secure maximum points at home to strengthen their push for a fifth World Cup appearance when the global showpiece heads to the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
