Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo is expected to field a strong lineup for the must-win game against Mali in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on September 8, 2025.
With the current points tally in Group I, the Black Stars cannot afford to lose under the floodlights on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Coach Otto Addo is expected to make significant changes to the starting lineup he used in the 1-1 draw against Chad at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare is expected to start in goal as he is still Ghana’s safest pair of hands.
In defense, Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu is expected to replace Jerome Opoku and Jonas Adjetey.
Gideon Mensah will maintain his place on the left side of Ghana’s defense while Tariq Lamptey is expected to start in place of Caleb Yirenkyi.
Villarreal’s Thomas Partey and Abdul Salis Samed, who plays for Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, will play in the double pivot and central defensive areas to support the attack and shield the defense.
Black Stars ready to show ‘another face’ against Mali – Otto Addo
LA Galaxy’s Joseph Paintsil, in-form Premier League players Kudus Mohammed and Antoine Semenyo will form the front three behind the striker.
Captain Jordan Ayew is expected to start as the lone striker in attack, leading the team’s attacking prowess.
Otto Addo is expected to play a 4-2-3-1 formation to have more men in the midfield against a very combative Mali team that has kept 6 clean sheets in their last 8 games.
The likes of Inaki Williams, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ibrahim Osman, Christopher Bonsu Bonsu, Caleb Yirenkyi, and others are expected to start from the bench.
JE
