2026 FIFA WCQ: Alexander Djiku Scores As Ghana Take the Lead Against Mali, Video

• Ghana battled to a gritty 1-0 win over Mali in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Monday, September 8
• The result leaves the Black Stars just one victory away from booking their place at next year’s global showpiece
• Fans flooded social media with excitement, celebrating the hard-earned triumph that came courtesy of a scrappy strike from an unexpected scorer

Alexander Djiku scored a fortuitous goal to hand Ghana the lead in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The 31-year-old bundled the ball in from a Jordan Ayew corner kick to send the supporters at the stadium into a state of frenzy.

Watch the goal:

Djiku's goal inspires Ghana to victory

Early in the second half, Alexander Djiku broke the deadlock after Malian goalkeeper Djigui Diarra spilt a cross from Jordan Ayew, leaving the defender to force the ball home.

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The goal sent the stadium into wild celebrations as the Black Stars seized control of the match.

The jubilation wasn’t confined to the stadium alone, as Ghanaians trooped to social media to shower praise on the newly signed Spartak Moscow defender.

YEN.com.gh gathered a few reactions from X (formerly Twitter):

@the_marcoliboy made a wild comparison:

"Djiku is greater than Puyol. Why?"

@ObiaaBewu wrote:

"We always admire how good Djiku is, always sacrificing himself for the Black Stars team. He deserves a higher salary than Gideon Mensah."

@DanielAyis96540 reacted with fire emojis:

"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

@EMAGTaylor gave a one-word praise:

"....awesome!"

@ntettey4 summed up:

"I love ❤️ dis guy paaaooooo."

From that moment, Ghana switched to a defensive setup, with Djiku and his backline putting in a resolute shift to resist Mali’s late surge.

Sadly, the 31-year-old, who has reportedly signed for Spartak Moscow according to Ghanasoccernet, could not see out the game after picking up an injury.

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He was replaced in the 87th minute by Jerome Opoku, raising concerns about his fitness among fans.

Looking ahead, Ghana’s qualification campaign continues with a tricky away fixture against the Central African Republic on October 8, followed by a decisive home clash with Comoros three days later, as highlighted by Flashscore.

The Black Stars need a win from their next two games to book a spot at next year's global showpiece.

Reflecting on the performance, former Swedru All Blacks coach Prince George Koffie told YEN.com.gh:

“While many may not agree, I think technically Otto Addo executed his game plan excellently well.

"Admittedly his approach could have been different, but the essence of the game was not to lose, and when Djiku scored the crucial goal, the team coiled back into their shells, adopting a more defensive tone to foil the Malians.

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"It wasn’t the most comfortable strategy for spectators, but in the end, it delivered the much-needed result.”

Djiku breaks his silence after match winner

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Alexander Djiku, Ghana’s hero against Mali, has broken his silence after netting the decisive goal in the World Cup qualifier.

The 31-year-old’s strike proved crucial, tightening Ghana’s grip on Group I and boosting their push for a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Source: YEN.com.gh