South African referee, Badi Luxolo
Badi Luxolo from South Africa has been appointed as the centre referee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I qualifier between Ghana and Mali.
The 30-year-old will be assisted by Phatsoane Souru (Assistant Referee I) from Lesotho, Cledwin Baloyi (Assistant Referee II) from South Africa, and Naftal Mweshitsama Negongo from Namibia as the fourth official.
Guezzaz Mohammed from Morocco will serve as the Referee Assessor, while Kachalla Babagana Kalli will act as the Match Commissioner.
The Black Stars on Monday, September 8, 2025, will host the Eagles of Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium under the floodlights on matchday 8 of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Mali lost the first leg 2-1 under former coach Eric Chelle on June 6, 2024, at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako.
Ghana trained with full house as 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.
Inaki Benched, Partey Starts: Black Stars predicted starting XI against Mali
Tariq Lamptey, Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, Thomas Partey and Joseph Paintsil are all expected to start in the game against a Mali team that has kept 6 clean sheets in their last 8 games.
Meanwhile, watch the pre-match conferences of Otto Addo, Tom Saintfiet and Black Stars final training session ahead of Mali game
