Ghana and Mali have a rivalry that spans over six decades. Now the two nations meet again, this time in Accra, with the stakes higher than ever. Ghana sits at the top of Group I in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, while Mali remains firmly in the chase.
A win for the Black Stars could widen the gap and cement their place as group leaders.
For Mali, it is a chance to flip the narrative and cut Ghana down at home. This is more than just a qualifier. It is a continuation of a rivalry built on history, pride, and the relentless fight for supremacy in West African football.
HEAD TO HEAD
Their first meeting in 1960 ended with a statement from the Black Stars, a commanding 4–1 victory that set the tone for years to come. Since then, the fixture has carried weight and drama, producing results that still echo in the history of African football. In total, the two sides have faced each other 25 times. Ghana leads the head-to-head with 12 wins, Mali has 6, and 7 encounters have ended in draws.
TEAM NEWS
Ghana has been hit by the absence of Ibrahim Sulemana, who misses out through injury after picking up a knock in training, asking Otto Addo to look for alternatives. The rest of the squad, however, remains largely intact, with Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Jordan Ayew expected to feature prominently.
From the Mali camp, coach Tom Saintfiet has a near full-strength squad to choose from. Key names like Nene Dorgeles, Mustapha Sangare, and Kamory Doumbia are fit and available, giving the Eagles plenty of firepower and balance as they aim to unsettle Ghana in Accra.
WHAT THE COACHES SAID
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet acknowledged Ghana’s strength but insisted his side is determined to make history in Accra.
“Ghana is a top team in Africa. They are number one in our group, four points ahead of us, so it will be a tough match, but we are here to write history. We want to win here, it is clear. At the moment, we are not in pole position to qualify for the World Cup. At the moment, Ghana is in the best position, but there are three games left, and we will do everything to make it possible to qualify.”
Ghana coach Otto Addo reflected on his side’s missed opportunity against Chad but looked ahead with optimism.
“The whole team was very disappointed after the draw with Chad. surely it’s easier to play at home in front of our supporters. I hope that we learn from the mistakes we made. Looking forward for tomorrow.”
FORM GUIDE (LAST SIX MATCHES)
GHANA’S FORM
24 September 2025 Ghana 1-1 Chad World Cup Qualifiers
31 May 2025 Trinidad and Tobago 0-4 Ghana Unity Cup
28 May 2025 Ghana 1-2 Nigeria Unity Cup
24 March 2025 Madagascar 0-3 Ghana World Cup Qualifiers
21 March 2025 Ghana 5-0 Chad World Cup Qualifiers
28 December 2024 Nigeria 3-1 Ghana International Friendly
MALI’S FORM
4 September 2025 Mali 3-0 Comoros World Cup Qualifiers
5 June 2025 DR Congo 1-0 Mali International Friendlies
24 March 2024 Central African Republic 0-0 Mali World Cup Qualifiers
20 March 2024 Comoros 0-3 Mali World Cup Qualifiers
29 December 2024 Mali 0-0 Mauritania International Friendlies
22 December 2024 Mauritania 1-0 Mali International Friendlies
PREDICTED LINEUPS
GHANA (4-3-3): Benjamin Asare, Tariq Lamptey, Alexander Djiku, Jonas Adjetey, Gideon Mensah, Inaki Williams, Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew.
MALI (4-2-3-1): D.Diarra, Diakite, Diaby, Niakkate, Diarra, Camara, Dieng, Bissouma, Doumbia, Nene, Toure.
PREDICTIONS
Ghana 2-1 Mali
