Ghana 1-0 Mali: Black Stars player ratings
Alexander Djiku’s goal in the 49th minute gave Ghana a priceless victory in their World Cup qualifier against Mali.
The Black Stars showed grit and control to secure three points, while the Eagles saw their unbeaten in a competitive game run new head coach Tom Saintfiet snapped.
Here’s how the players fared on the night:
Benjamin Asare (GK) – 7
Had a relatively off day but looked assured between the posts. Made routine saves and stayed alert whenever Mali threatened. Timed his runs really well and always made contact with the ball to clear it to safety.
Jonas Adjetey – 6.5
Kept things tidy on the left of the back three. Sometimes over-committed but recovered well. Not his best performance for the stars, but not completely out of sorts.
Alexander Djiku – 8
Hero of the night. Rock solid defensively and popped up with the all-important winner in the 49th minute.
Mohammed Salisu – 6.5
Strong aerial presence, dealt with crosses, and kept the Mali forwards quiet.
Caleb Yirenkyi – 7
Worked hard on the flank, supported attacks when possible,connected well with Kudos a few times, but the final delivery could have been sharper.
Gideon Mensah – 6
Provided width on the left. Got forward with energy, but the end product lacked precision. Also made some floppy passes, which gave away possession too easily.
Kwesi Sibo – 6.5
Battled in midfield, offered cover, though occasionally sloppy in possession.
Thomas Partey – 7
Dictated tempo and controlled midfield transitions. Calm and composed performance.
Mohammed Kudus – 7.5
The creative spark. Troubled Mali’s backline with dribbling and movement, unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
Jordan Ayew – 6
Worked tirelessly up front, pressed defenders, linked play, though not much cutting edge in front of the goal.
Antoine Semenyo – 6.5
Used his strength and pace well. Gave Mali’s defenders a hard time with direct running. But lacked the final cutting edge.
