World Cup (Q): Ghana coach Otto Addo reveals tactics to defeat Mali

Ghana national team coach Otto Addo has explained how he masterminded the country’s 1-0 victory against Mali to take a huge step towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Alexander Djiku scored the only goal for the Black Stars in the 49th minute in Accra after Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra failed to gather Jordan Ayew’s inswinging corner.

“Yeah, so this is football, you know, sometimes you have to switch the tactics. I knew that they needed to win, so we played a little bit more defensively and we had good headers in our team because we have three tall defenders and at the end, this is his opinion,” said Addo after his tactics were questioned by Mali.

“It’s okay, I understand and I had my tactics, we had our tactics, and we decided well, I think, because what’s most important is the three points and we got it and that’s fine.”

On Ghana’s overall performance, Addo said: “Yeah, some problems, I think, yeah, you could see that we have a young squad and players who haven’t been playing often for the national team so far and we were a little bit nervous here and there, but after 50 minutes I think we got good into the game.

“It was, the game was even, but with a little bit of upper chances for us, so, but it was a, I think, yeah, it was a, it was a deserved draw to halftime and then we, we increased the pressure early in the second half, and we managed to score out of a set piece.”

He added: “And then it was pure fight afterwards, especially the last 50 minutes, we had some chances to finish the game, we had counters where we could have scored a second goal.

“We couldn’t, yeah, get use of these situations and at the end it stayed really, really hot till the last minute and Mali was putting pressure on us, but not really creating chances, just with high balls and shots from 20, 25 metres and I think we really fought well, especially in the pockets thanks to the defence and they really gave their all and defended well and I’m happy that we won.”

On Ghana’s decision making in final third, he explained: “Yeah, some problems, I think, yeah, you could see that we have a young squad and players who haven’t been playing often for the national team so far and we were a little bit nervous here and there, but after 50 minutes I think we got good into the game.

“It was, the game was even, but with a little bit of upper chances for us, so, but it was a, I think, yeah, it was a, it was a deserved draw to halftime and then we, we increased the pressure early in the second half, we managed to score out of a set piece.

“And then it was pure fight afterwards, especially the last 50 minutes, we had some chances to finish the game, we had counters where we could have scored a second goal, but we couldn’t, yeah, get use of these situations and at the end it stayed really, really hot till the last minute and Mali was putting pressure on us.”

The win meant Ghana moved on to 19 points and restored their three-point lead at the top of Group I before the final two rounds of fixtures next month.

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