Ghana vs. Mali World Cup Qualifier: Mohammed Kudus and 3 Black Stars Players Who Must Step Up
- Ghana take on Mali for the 26th time when the two nations meet in Accra on Monday in a decisive World Cup 2026 qualifier
- All eyes are on four Black Stars stars who must raise their game after underwhelming outings for Ghana
- Mohammed Kudus may be Ghana’s poster boy, but there’s a glaring hole in his game right now
Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament enters a critical stage as the Black Stars take on Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 8.
Matchday 8 could be a nervy battle, as the long-standing rivalry between Ghana and Mali takes centre stage.
Source: Twitter
Otto Addo’s side approach the decisive clash after slipping up against Chad, where Jordan Ayew’s early goal was cancelled out by an 89th-minute equaliser, per Flashscore.
Mali, by contrast, were in fine form on September 3, dispatching Comoros 3–0 at Morocco’s Berkane Municipal Stadium, with goals from Nene Dorgeles, Kamory Doumbia, and Lassana Coulibaly, according to Stats Zone.
Ahead of Monday’s crucial clash, YEN.com.gh highlights four Black Stars players who rarely face criticism but must raise their game against Mali.
1. Mohammed Kudus
For a player of his calibre, the assists are not enough. Kudus commanded a staggering £55 million move to Tottenham this summer, and with that price tag comes expectation.
His early days with the Black Stars of Ghana were promising, going on to rack up 12 goals in 42 games, but the goals have since dried up.
Worryingly, he has failed to score in his last five outings for club and country in 2025/26, and Ghana cannot afford him to go missing. He must start finding the net, particularly in the upcoming clash against Mali.
Source: Getty Images
2. Antoine Semenyo
At Bournemouth, Semenyo is firing from all angles, but in national colours, he looks an entirely different player.
His record of just three goals in 24 appearances for Ghana is simply below standard for a striker of his ability.
The Black Stars need him to reproduce his club form and shake off the tag of being “ordinary” in international football.
3. Inaki Williams
Another Black Stars player who shines for his club but flatters to deceive in national colours is Inaki Williams.
The Athletic Bilbao captain has played 23 games for the Black Stars and scored only twice. That return is not good enough for a player of his experience and quality.
Williams must step up, sharpen his finishing, and finally deliver the goals Ghana desperately needs in big matches.
4. Gideon Mensah
Ghanaian fans may have been harsh on Baba Rahman over the years, but Gideon Mensah is hardly convincing as his long-term successor.
Now the undisputed first-choice left-back, the Auxerre defender has failed to show consistency in national colours — one solid display followed by a poor one, as seen in the draw against Chad.
For Ghana to push on, Mensah must cut out the erratic performances and finally deliver the reliability the position demands.
That left-back role has been graced by the likes of the late Godfred Yeboah and Hans Adu Sarpei, but in truth, Yeboah never reached the levels those players set.
Predicted Ghana starting XI vs. Mali
YEN.com.gh earlier forecasted Black Stars of Ghana's starting formation for their all-important World Cup clash against Mali.
Head coach Otto Addo is likely to ring as many as five changes to the team that drew 1-1 against Chad on September 4.
Source: YEN.com.gh
