Otto Addo: Ghana Coach Praises Impact of Substitutes After 'Well Deserved' Win Against Mali

• Black Stars coach, Otto Addo, has reacted to the efforts of his team as Ghana defeated Mali on Thursday in Bamako
• A strong second-half display from substitutes, Fatawu Issahaku and Jordan Ayew, secured Ghana a first win in 2024
• The Black Stars returned home today ahead of the game against the Central African Republic on Monday in Kumasi

Ghana coach, Otto Addo, has praised the impact of his second-half substitutes after the Black Stars came back from a goal down to beat Mali in Bamako on Thursday, June 6.

Jordan Ayew scored a late winner after fellow substitute, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, pressed his marker to win the ball in injury time before the Crystal Palace star squeezed home in the 94th minute.

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Mali had taken the lead in the first half after Kamory Doumbia's strike ricocheted off Alexander Djiku before bouncing in for the opener at the stroke of half-time.

The Black Stars levelled 10 minutes into the second half after Ernest Nuamah rose high to head home an Abdul Samed Salis cross.

A pleased Addo admitted that the Malians had dominated the first half but said his side deserved the victory for their second-half display.

"I think we had big problems in the first 20 minutes. Mali made good pressing; we had difficulties standing firm and allowed them to make chances. After that, the tempo of the game went down; we controlled the game until they scored. It was a little bit unnecessary to go down [on the scoreboard]," he said after the match, as quoted by the GFA official website.

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However, the Black Stars coach was full of praise for the starting XI and those on the bench.

"Good job in pressing and winning the ball - Jordan was there and he scored. In the end, he was a little bit lucky to score but I think in all, well deserved," he added.

Ghana returned home in the early hours of Friday morning and will continue preparations ahead of the game against the Central African Republic next Monday, as spotted on social media.

Ayew scores late winner against Mali

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Jordan Ayew was Ghana's hero in Bamako after scoring a late winner against Mali in their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Bamako on Thursday.

The Eagles opened the scoring through Kamory Doumbia at the stroke of half-time but Ernest Nuamah responded after the break before Ayew sunk an extra-time winner.