Mali Coach Blasts Black Stars, Calls Ghana’s Strategy 'Cowardly' in World Cup Qualifier
- Ghana’s tactical approach against Mali has come under heavy criticism despite Thursday night’s narrow victory
- The Black Stars edged the tie 1-0 through Alexander Djiku’s goal, a result that strengthened their bid for World Cup qualification
- Next month, Ghana faces a decisive doubleheader against the Central African Republic and Comoros to wrap up the qualifying campaign
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Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet did not hold back after his team’s defeat to Ghana in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday, September 8.
Speaking to the media at the Accra Sports Stadium, the 52-year-old Belgian accused the Black Stars of playing with fear.
Source: Getty Images
Tom Saintfiet criticises Black Stars
He argued that Otto Addo had the players to dominate, but instead chose a defensive setup.
“It showed that they were afraid of us. They played with five people in defence, a similar approach to the game they won 3-0 against Madagascar. But we expected Ghana to be more offensive. They had the power of Semenyo, Kudus, Williams and all the attacking wing-backs.
"You [Ghana] could punish us in the first half with a very offensive approach and get the fans behind you; that was our thought. I thought Ghana would start very aggressive, attacking football in the first half to kill us in the first 15 minutes, especially after the not-so-good performance against Chad.
"So I was surprised that they started a little bit conservative with five people at the back, and so we had to adapt. We didn't expect it,” he told reporters.
Watch Saintfiet's criticism:
Ghana's win ends Mali’s World Cup dream
Saintfiet had come into the fixture with an impressive record, losing just once in ten matches as Mali’s head coach and keeping eight clean sheets along the way, per Transfermarkt.
Fresh from a 3-0 victory over Comoros, he was confident of causing an upset in Accra.
But that optimism was quickly dashed when Alexander Djiku bundled home the winner for Ghana early in the second half.
Source: Twitter
His goal forced the Black Stars to sit deep, frustrating Mali’s attacking rhythm until the final whistle.
The defeat confirmed Mali’s elimination from the race to qualify automatically for their first-ever World Cup.
With only 12 points from eight games, they can no longer catch up. Nonetheless, they could still make it via the playoff spots if they finish in second position.
They could also use the remainder of the matches in the qualifiers as a dress rehearsal for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations later this year.
For Ghana, the outlook is far brighter. The Black Stars top their group and need only four more points from their remaining fixtures to secure a ticket to the global showpiece.
Check out Ghana's group standings:
According to Flashscore, their campaign continues with a tricky trip to the Central African Republic on October 8 before a decisive home clash against Comoros three days later.
Otto Addo explains his defensive tactics
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Otto Addo shed light on his tactical approach in Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mali on Monday night.
After the game, the Black Stars coach revealed that his game plan was intentionally rooted in defensive discipline, focusing on neutralising Mali’s attacking danger.
Source: YEN.com.gh
