There was a lot of pressure to win Mali game – Otto Addo

Ghana coach Otto Addo has admitted that the team faced significant pressure to defeat Mali in Bamako following their uninspiring start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana secured a win against Madagascar but suffered a setback against Comoros. Consequently, they approached the match against Mali with little room for error, knowing that a defeat could complicate their World Cup qualification prospects.

The Black Stars initially fell behind but rallied to clinch a victory that not only revived their qualifying campaign but also seemed to reinvigorate a team that had gone winless in seven previous games.

They followed up their triumph over Mali with an exciting 4-3 win against Central African Republic, bringing their points tally to nine, equal with group leaders Comoros, with six matches remaining in the qualifiers. The top team in the group will secure direct qualification to the tournament co-hosted by USA, Mexico, and Canada.

“Yeah. It was very important. So, the first match was very, very important. There was a lot of pressure on this game, and, yeah, it’s always easier if you have a good start. So, I mean, we were lucky to score at the last minute, but the guys did well,” Addo told 3Sports in an exclusive interview.

“The players did tactically well offensively, but also defensively, especially in the second half. We really did well, and I think in the end, we also deserve it. We pushed for the win, and we deserve to win. But I was happy, really, really happy that we started with a win.“Because once you start with a win, it makes everything else easier, and the main point is for the players to believe in a comeback even though you’re 1-0 down, to believe that it’s possible to still win the game.”

Otto Addo speaks on the possibility of seeing Andre Ayew back in the Black Stars squad. pic.twitter.com/ZIv4va3z03

— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) June 12, 2024

Otto Addo was re-appointed earlier this year after the team’s disappointing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. He has signed a 34-month contract with an option for a further 24 months, tasked with rebuilding the team. With the recent victories, the former Dortmund assistant coach has garnered admiration.

His first stint saw him qualify Ghana for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and he remains resolute in his determination to secure another World Cup berth.Black Stars will be back in action in September for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.