Ghana Vs Mali Preview

With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers approaching, Otto Addo, the Head coach of the ghana black stars, has named a 26-man squad aiming to win games against Mali and Central African Republic in a bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup to be held in USA Canada and Mexico.

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).

The squad named has some notable absences: Baba Iddrisu, Majeed Ashimeru, Inaki Williams, Joseph Paintsil, Nathaniel Adjei, Dennis Odoi, Daniel Amartey, Daniel Kofi Kyere and Joseph Aidoo, who are sidelined with injuries.

Andre Ayew, the captain, is also missing from the squad while being fit, signalling that Otto Addo is moving on from the 34-year-old veteran and giving opportunities to younger players.

Ghana has an even record in the current World Cup qualifying campaign, with one win and one loss. The upcoming matches are critical for their hopes of qualification. They face Mali in Bamako on Thursday, June 6, 2026. Mali will be without their key player, Yves Bissouma, due to injury, and their captain, Hamari Traore, who will be serving a four-match ban. The last game between the two sides was in 2020 when Mali came out with 3–0 winners.

Predicted XI

Goalkeeper

I expect Lawrence Ati Zigi to maintain his place as the starting goalkeeper.

Defenders

It is yet to be seen whether Otto Addo starts with a back three or a back four, but his last two games indicate that he will go with a back four.

I expect him to go with Gideon Mensah on the left, Alexander Djiku Abd ul Mumin as the centre-back pairing, and Tariq Lamptey on the right.

Midfielders

I expect Otto Addo to start with a double pivot of Thomas Partey, who returns to the side, and Salis Abdul Samed of RC lens.

Attack

In the attack, I expect Ghana to play Ernest Nuamah on the left, Jordan Ayew on the right, Antoine Semenyo through the middle and Mohammed Kudus right behind him.

Predicted XI