Even though Ghana has a good chance of making it to the 2026 World Cup, coach Otto Addo has warned against complacency.
Alexander Djiku scored the game’s lone goal in the second half as the Black Stars defeated Mali 1-0 in the Matchday 8 qualifiers on Monday night at the Accra Sports Stadium, regaining their winning ways following a disheartening stalemate with Chad the previous week.
With two games remaining in the qualifications, the senior national team leads Group I with 19 points.
The 48-year-old warned Ghanaians against becoming complacent, as the Black Stars just need a victory to guarantee their spot in the Mundial, which will be held the following year.
“Everybody was talking before the Chad game that we had already won.It’s dangerous. We are not at the World Cup yet,” Addo said after the game.
“We have a lot of work to do, and every opponent must be respected,” he added.
After playing the Central African Republic away, the Black Stars will play Comoros at home in the final round of the qualifiers in October to wrap up their qualifying campaign.
The pitch feels like concrete, thus Coach Otto Addo expressed surprise that it was authorized for an international competition in his pre-game interview.
“Yeah, so, yeah, I’m really surprised that they have allowed this pitch for an international match. The pitch is really, really not good. It’s very, very hard for the players, it’s like playing on concrete.But yeah, what can we do? We have to take it as it comes, and we are prepared.
“We observed everything today. Like I said, it’s not a good AstroTurf, to be honest. Nowadays, there are far better Astroturfs, which are also much healthier for the players,” Coach Otto Addo shared as quoted on the ghanafa.org.
Thursday’s clash between Chad and Ghana will kick off at 1 pm.
Otto Addo has selected Ghana’s team to play the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali in June’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
26 players have been chosen by the Black Stars coach for the doubleheader, which begins on June 6 with a journey to Bamako to play the Eagles.
After that, on June 10, the Black Stars will play a match in Kumasi against the Central African Republic.
West Bromwich attacker Brandon Thomas-Asante and Cagliari midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana have been called up for the first time.
The sole player from Ghana included in the team is goalkeeper Frederick Asare of Asante Kotoko.
Otto Addo has kept faith with a number of his trusted troops and big name players ahead of the must-win game against Mali on June 6, 2024 in Bamako.
Fit-again Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey returns to the squad, alongside Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce Istanbul), Alidu Seidu (Stade Rennes), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Salis Abdul Samed (RC Lens) and Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco).
Striker Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), wingers Kamaldeen Sulemana (FC Southampton), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City), Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyon) and Osman Bukari (RS Belgrade) have been named in the 26-man squad
There are also places for Ebenezer Annan (FK Novi Pazar), Ibrahim Osman (FC Nordsjaelland), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Abu Francis (Cercle Brugge) and Brandon Thomas-Asante (West Bromwich) in the squad.
Seven players have been confirmed injured and will miss the double-header next month. They are Baba Iddrisu, Majeed Ashimeru, Inaki Williams, Joseph Paintsil, Nathaniel Adjei, Dennis Odoi and Daniel Amartey.
Daniel Kofi Kyere and Joseph Aidoo are also confirmed long-term injuries.
Otto Addo’s 26-man squad will report for duty on Thursday morning as they begin to prepare for the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada.
The Black Stars will train at the University of Ghana Stadium for six-days before departing for Bamako on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Jojo Wollacot (Hibernian FC), Frederick Asare (Asante Kotoko)
Defenders: Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre),Ebenezer Annan (FK Novi Pazar), Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce Istanbul), Alidu Seidu (Stade Rennes), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Midfielders: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United), Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyon), Salis Abdul Samed (RC Lens), Ibrahim Sulemana (Cagliari Calcio), Edmund Addo (FK Radnicki Nis), Thomas Partey (FC Arsenal), Elisha Owusu ( AJ Auxerre), Abu Francis (Cercle Brugge).
Forwards: Osman Bukari (RS Belgrade), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City, loan from Sporting CP), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Ibrahim Osman (FC Nordsjaelland), Kamaldeen Sulemana (FC Southampton), Brandon Thomas-Asante (West Bromwich)
