Ghana coach Otto Addo has acknowledged setting up his team with a defensive approach in their narrow win over Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars boosted their qualification hopes with a 1-0 victory at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday evening, thanks to Alexander Djiku’s scrappy second-half strike.
Speaking after the game, Addo explained that his tactical plan was shaped by Mali’s need to chase a win and Ghana’s strength in aerial battles.
“This is football — sometimes you have to adjust your tactics,” he said. “I knew they needed to win, so we played a bit more defensively. We had good headers in our team with three tall defenders, so we made that decision. At the end of the day, the most important thing is the three points.”
The result moves Ghana within one victory of securing a place at the 2026 World Cup. The Black Stars now turn their attention to an away fixture against the Central African Republic, before closing their qualifying campaign at home to Comoros in October.
