Otto Addo has underlined the stakes as Ghana prepare to face Mali in their 2026 World Cup qualifier, insisting only victory will keep the Black Stars in control of their path to the tournament.
Ghana surrendered ground in Group I after being held 1-1 by Chad last week, a result Addo admitted was a setback. But the head coach is adamant that his side can reset the momentum.
“As long as we have it in our own hands, I’m very, very positive,” Addo said. “And we have to still keep it in our own hands. And for this, we have to win.”
The standings remain tight, with Comoros closing the gap following their latest win. But Addo maintained that the scenario has not fundamentally shifted.
“The positive truth is that nothing has changed. We were three points ahead of the second. This was the start of the score. I know Comoros is playing at the moment, so they are leading, so it’s getting closer. For us, nothing has changed. We wanted to beat Chad, it didn’t happen, but we are looking to do that against Mali tomorrow,” he said. “The only positive thing is we still have it in our own hands. We still can decide our own destiny. We will put everything into this game tomorrow to win this game.”
A win against Mali in Accra would not only restore Ghana’s cushion at the top but also send a statement of intent to the rest of Group I. For Addo, the equation is simple: the Black Stars must deliver when it matters most.
By: Pascal Amoah
