Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, has acknowledged the use of a defensive strategy following the Black Stars’ hard-fought 1-0 win against Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The victory, achieved at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, reinforces Ghana’s position at the top of Group I. After a scoreless first half, Alexander Djiku broke the stalemate in the 49th minute, providing the hosts with the essential three points.
In his post-match comments, Addo clarified that the tactical approach was intentionally cautious.
“This is football; at times, you must modify your tactics. I was aware that Mali required a win, so we opted for a more defensive style, and we also had strong headers in our squad due to our three tall defenders. Ultimately, that strategy proved effective for us,” stated the 48-year-old.
“I had my tactics, we had our tactics, and we made the appropriate choices. What is most important is securing the three points,” he further remarked.
This victory positions Ghana just one win away from securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The Black Stars are set to face the Central African Republic away next, before wrapping up their qualifying campaign with a home match against Comoros in October.
