“It Will Be Difficult”: Ghana Coach Otto Addo Wary of Mali Threat

• Otto Addo has held his first press conference since becoming Ghana's coach
• He said he is wary of the threat posed by Mali, their opponent, next week
• The Black Stars are fourth in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

New Ghana coach, Otto Addo, is cautious ahead of Black Stars 2026 World Cup qualifier next week away from home.

The four-time African champions have won one and lost one of their first two qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros.

The West African football giants are coming off a dismal Africa Cup of Nations campaign, and Otto's arrival signals a new era.

Ghana beat Nigeria in a heated two-legged tie to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They won once and lost two matches.

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That World Cup campaign was sandwiched between two awful AFCON tournaments. They failed to go past the group stages of the 2021 and 2023 AFCONs.

Addo has been tasked with reigniting the Black Stars in his second spell as coach. They face Mali next week, looking to take charge of Group I in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

In his first presser since his appointment as coach, Addo said the Mali game will be tough, per My Joy Online.

"The aim is to qualify. It will be difficult, especially in the away game with Mali. They have a very good squad."

The former Borussia Dortmund man stressed that he wants to see how his team plays. He concluded that results are the only thing that matters.

"What I want to assess is the way we play. We will have good and bad times. We show that when we played against Nigeria and in the World Cup we played good football. At the end, it is a result sport. I will be judged by the results."

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Comoros are top of Group I with six points; Mali are second with four points; Madagascar are third with three points, and Ghana are fourth. Mali reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFCON and are also ranked eighth in Africa.

Gyan advises Addo

Sports Brief earlier reported on Black Stars legend, Asamoah Gyan, advising Addo to build his team around West Ham star, Mohammed Kudus.

Gyan thinks the 23-year-old forward is Ghana's top star and has been doing well in Europe in the last few years.