"We Have a Plan": Ghana Coach Otto Addo Fires Warning at Mali Ahead of World Cup Qualifier

• Otto Addo, the new Black Stars coach, is hopeful of victory ahead of the game against Mali in the World Cup qualifier
• The Black Stars arrived in Mali on Tuesday as preparations continued for the game on Thursday, June 6, in Bamako
• The Black Stars are hoping to bounce back after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Cup in January

Ghana coach, Otto Addo, insists the Black Stars are ready for the World Cup qualifier against Mali.

The four-time African champions head into the game as the less-fancied side following their recent struggles.

The Black Stars are yet to win a game in 2024 and were eliminated from the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations early this year.

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Chris Hughton was sacked and replaced by Otto Addo in March, with the former Dortmund coach set to play his first competitive game since his second return.

Ahead of the game on Thursday at the Stade du 26 Mars, Addo claims he has a plan to stop the AFCON 2023 quarter-finalist.

"We have a plan. How we want to play. We have observed them well. Of course, most of their players play in Ligue 1. We have our ideas but of course, we cannot tell them,” he told reporters, as quoted by Football Ghana.

“Surely I think we are ready for the game. I was very satisfied with how the players understood how the players wanted to play. This is going to be a tough match away in Mali but we also have the quality to compete against them although we didn't have a good AFCON. We have the players to get three points from Mali,” he added.

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The Black Stars sit fourth in Group I after a win and a defeat in their first two matches of the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, the last time Ghana played Mali in Bamako, the Black Stars defeated the Eagles 2-0, courtesy of goals from Kwadwo Asamoah and Mathew Amoah, as reported by Modern Ghana.

Partey confident of victory in Mali

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Arsenal star, Thomas Partey believes Ghana has what it takes to stop Mali ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bamako.

The Black Stars are in Bamako for Thursday's crucial Group I headliner as Ghana eyes victory against the AFCON quarter-finalists.

The West African powerhouse have been without a win in 2024, suffering an early Africa Cup of Nations exit in Ivory Coast after a 2-2 draw in their final group game against Mozambique.