2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS PREVIEW: GHANA VS MALI

 By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh

The Black Stars will lock horns with the Eagles of Mali in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Group I Round 8 fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 8, 2025, night in Accra. 

Both sides will be keen to pick up vital points and take a step closer towards booking a spot at next year's World Cup. 

Otto Addo is blessed with a strong Ghana squad, but the Black Stars slipped up recently as they conceded late on to be pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Chad at Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno, with Jordan Ayew’s 17th-minute opener canceled out by an 89th-minute equalizer scored by Celestin Ecua. 

Ghana leads their group with 16 points after seven games played, while Mali, with 12 points, sits in third position on the table. 

Coach Otto Addo has many attacking options like Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Kudus, but finishing remains a challenge. 

Playing at home in Accra, Ghana is unbeaten and confident, but the pressure of the standings might affect their mindset. 

They now face a Mali side that comes into this one on the back of a 3-0 demolishing of Comoros, closing the gap on the Ghanaians to sit four points behind Ghana at the top of the group, with Madagascar three points behind Ghana.                   

Head-to-Head since 1960.

 • October 2, 1960 (Kwame Nkrumah Gold Cup) [West African Championship] {Semi-final}
Venue: Ibadan, Nigeria 
Ghana                             5-1 Mali
Edward Jonah Aggrey-Fynn, Edward Acquah 2x, Baba Yara 2x//Moussa Diallo

• March 5, 1961 (International Friendly)
Venue:  Ghana 
Ghana                             3-0 Mali 

• January 14, 1962 
Venue: Mali
Mali                                 0-1 Ghana 
Edward Jonah Aggrey-Fynn 

• March 18, 1962 (International Friendly)
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium 
Ghana                             0-0 Mali

• March 3, 1963 (Kwame Nkrumah Gold Cup) [Final]
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium 
Ghana                             4-0 Mali
Edward Acquah 3x (17', 62' 77’, Baba Yara 35'
Manager: Charles Kumi Gyamfi (Ghana)//Oumar Sy (Mali)

• April 13, 1975 (1976 AFCON Qualifiers) [1st round]
Venue: Stade du 26 Mars - Bamako, Mali
Mali                                 3-1 Ghana
Owusu  
Manager: Karouga Keita (Mali)// Fred Osam Duodu (Ghana)

• March 30, 1975 (1976 AFCON Qualifiers) [2nd leg]
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium, 
Ghana                             4-0 Mali
Owusu 4x
Fred Osam Duodu (Ghana)//Karouga Keita (Mali)

• July 17, 1978 (1978 All African Games ) [Group B]
Venue: Stade du 20 Aout, Algeria 
Mali                                 1-1 Ghana 
Owusu Afriyie 28'
Manager: Fred Osam Duodu (Ghana)//Karouga Keita (Mali)

• July 31, 1988 (International Friendly)
Ghana                             1-0 Mali

• December 4, 1992 (International Friendly ) 
Ghana                             1-1 Mali
Manager: Otto Pfister (Ghana)

• February 23, 1994 (International Friendly)
Venue: Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako - Mali
Mali                                 0-0 Ghana 
Manager: Mamadou Keita (Mali)//Otto Pfister (Ghana)

• December 3, 1998 (International Friendly)
Venue: Stade Modibo Keita, Bamako - Mali
Mali                                 0-2 Ghana 
Manager: Christian Sarramagna (Mali)//Giuseppe Dossena (Ghana)

• December 25, 2001 (International Friendly)
Venue: Stade Barema Bocoum - Mopti, Mali
Mali                                 1-1 Ghana 
Seydou Keita 58'// Baffour Gyan 9'
Manager: Henryk Kasperczak (Mali)//Fred Osam Duodu (Ghana)

• Qualification to South Africa 2010 World Cup
June 7, 2009 
Venue: Stade du 26 Mars
Mali                                 0-2 Ghana 
Kwadwo Asamoah 66', Matthew Amoah 78'
Manager: Stephen Keshi (Mali)//Milovan Rajevac (Ghana)

• Qualification to South Africa 2010 World Cup 
November 15, 2009
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi 
Ghana                             2-2 Mali
Matthew Amoah 65', Anthony Annan 84'//Lassana Fane 24', Tenema N'Diaye 69'
Manager: Milovan Rajevac (Ghana)//Stephen Keshi (Mali)

• January 28, 2012 (AFCON) [Round 2]
Venue: Stade de Franceville, Gabon 
Ghana                             2-0 Mali
Asamoah Gyan 63', Andre Dede Ayew 76'
Manager: Goran Stevanovic (Ghana)// Alain Giresse (Mali)

• February 11, 2012 (AFCON) [play-offs-3rd place]
Venue: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Equatorial Guinea 
Ghana                             0-2 Mali 
Cheick Diabate (brace) 23', 80'
Manager: Goran Stevanovic (Ghana)//Alain Giresse (Mali)

• January 24, 2013 (AFCON) [Group B]
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, South Africa 
Ghana                             1-0 Mali
Mubarak Wakaso 38' (pen)
Manager: James Kwesi Appiah (Ghana)//Patrice Carteron (Mali)

• February 9, 2013 (AFCON) [3rd/4th place]
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, South Africa 
Mali                                 3-1 Ghana
Mamadou Samassa 21', Seydou Keita 48', Sigamary Diarra 90+4'//Kwadwo Asamoah 82'
Manager: Patrice Carteron (Mali)//James Kwesi Appiah (Ghana) 

• March 31, 2015 (International Friendly)
Venue: Stade Charlety, France 
Ghana                             1-1 Mali
Emmanuel Agyeman Badu 52'//Bakary Sako 71' (pen)
Manager: Avram Grant (Ghana)//Alain Giresse (Mali)

• January 21, 2017 (AFCON) [Group D, MD3]
Venue: Stade de Port-Gentil, Gabon 
Ghana                             1-0 Mali
Asamoah Gyan 21'
Manager: Avram Grant (Ghana)//Alain Giresse (Mali)

• September 16, 2017 (WAFU Cup) [Group A]
Venue: Cape Coast Stadium 
Ghana                             1-0 Mali
Winful Cobbina 

• October 9, 2020 (International Friendly) 
Venue: Emirhan Sport Center, Turkey 
Mali                                 3-0 Ghana
Hamari Traore 3', El Bilal Toure 49', Amadou Haidara 75'
Manager: Mohamed Magassouba (Mali) Charles K. Akonnor (Ghana)

• Qualification to 2026 World Cup (Round 3) [Group I]
June 6, 2024 
Venue: Stade du 26 Mars
Mali                                 1-2 Ghana
Kamory Doumbia 45'//Ernest Nuamah 58', Jordan Ayew 90+4'
Manager: Eric Chelle (Mali)//Otto Addo (Ghana)

Total matches played      - 24
Ghana wins                        - 13
Goals scored by Ghana   - 37
Mali wins                            - 4
Goals scored by Mali       - 19
Drawn games                    - 7                                                                 

Ghana's Unbeaten Record Against Mali

. The Ghana Black Stars remain unbeaten in their previous World Cup Qualifiers games against the Eagles of Mali, boasting a record of 2 wins and 1 draw, with 6 goals scored and 3 conceded (W2 D1 GF6 GA3).

. The Black Stars of Ghana have consistently scored 2 goals in each of their previous World Cup Qualifiers games against the Eagles of Mali, totaling 6 goals in 3 games.

Specific Matches:

• Qualification to South Africa 2010 World Cup
June 7, 2009 
Venue: Stade du 26 Mars
Mali                                 0-2 Ghana 
Kwadwo Asamoah 66', Matthew Amoah 78'
Manager: Stephen Keshi (Mali)//Milovan Rajevac (Ghana)

• Qualification to South Africa 2010 World Cup 
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi 
Ghana                             2-2 Mali
Matthew Amoah 65', Anthony Annan 84'//Lassana Fane 24', Tenema N'Diaye 69'
Manager: Milovan Rajevac (Ghana)//Stephen Keshi (Mali)

• Qualification to 2026 World Cup (Round 3) [Group I]
June 6, 2024 
Venue: Stade du 26 Mars
Mali                                 1-2 Ghana
Kamory Doumbia 45'//Ernest Nuamah 58', Jordan Ayew 90+4'
Manager: Eric Chelle (Mali)//Otto Addo (Ghana)

• Match Facts:

• The Black Stars of Ghana are ranked 76th in the FIFA rankings (July 10, 2025).

- Their first International game was 28th May, 1950 (Gold Coast and British Togoland 1-0 Nigeria) [Accra, British Gold Coast].

• The Eagles of Mali are ranked 54 by FIFA latest rankings (July 10, 2025).

- Their first International game was played on April 13, 1960 (Mali 4-3 Central African Republic) [Madagascar].

Player Records:

• Ghana's most caps player: Andre Dede Ayew (120 caps, 24 goals). 

• Mali's most caps player: Seydou Keita (102 caps, 25 goals). 

• Ghana's all-time top scorer: Asamoah Gyan (51 goals, 109 caps). 

• Mali's all-time top scorer: Seydou Keita (25 goals, 102 caps). 

Team Information:

• Ghana is located in West Africa and is part of the WAFU Regional Federation.

• Mali is located in West Africa and is part of the WAFU Regional Federation. 

. The Ghana Black Stars' first participation in the World Cup Qualifiers was in the 1962 Chile World Cup Qualifiers, where they were eliminated by Morocco. The 2026 World Cup Qualifiers marks Ghana's 12th appearance in the competition.

• The Malian Football Federation was founded in 1960 and became affiliated with CAF in 1963 and FIFA in 1964. Mali's first participation in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers was in the 2002 South Korea and Japan World Cup Qualifiers, where they were eliminated in the preliminary round by Libya. The 2026 World Cup Qualifiers marks Mali's 7th appearance in the competition.

World Cup Qualifiers Records:

Ghana 
• Number of appearances: 12
• Games played:               97
• Wins:                                48
• Draws:                              26
• Losses:                            23
• Goals scored:                156
• Goals conceded:            77

 Mali
• Number of appearances:                    7
• Games played:                55
• Wins:                                 23
• Draws:                              16
• Losses:                             16
• Goals scored:                  73
• Goals conceded:            56

Additional Facts:
• 41 out of 54 active FIFA and CAF members have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup final tournament since its inception in 1930.

• Ghana's first appearance at the Final tournament of the World Cup was 2006 and so far have 4 appearances (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022). 

• Ghana's best performance in the World Cup tournament was reaching the Quarter-finals in 2010 in South Africa.

Team Debuts
• 1934: Egypt 
• 1970: Morocco 
• 1974: DR Congo (Zaire) 
• 1978: Tunisia
• 1982: Algeria & Cameroon 
• 1994: Nigeria 
• 1998: South Africa 
• 2002: Senegal 
• 2006: Ghana, Angola, Ivory Coast & Togo

Mali's Qualification Record:
Note that Mali has failed to qualify for the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup in their previous six attempts in the qualifiers.

Ghana's World Cup Qualifiers Record at Home:

. Ghana's first World Cup Qualifiers game at home was against Nigeria in the qualification for the 1962 Chile World Cup.

- August 28, 1960 (1st leg): Ghana 4-1 Nigeria (Edward Acquah 18', Edward Boateng 44', Aggry Fynn 54', Mohammed Salisu 55')

- September 10, 1960 (2nd leg): Nigeria 2-2 Ghana (Godwin Enemako, Dejo Fayemi//Sam Acquah 2x)

 Ghana's Squad
The Ghanaian squad for the 1962 World Cup Qualifiers against Nigeria included:
Aduquaye Laryea (GK), Abeka Ankrah, Aggry Fynn, Baba Yara, Emmanuel Oblitey, Athayi Tanko, Charles Addo Odamptey (capt), Edward Boateng, Mohammed Salisu, Ben Acheampong Simmons, and Edward Acquah.

Record at Home
. Ghana has played 49 World Cup Qualifiers games at home since their first attempt for the 1962 Chile World Cup, with a record of W34 D13 L2 GF102 GA25. 

. Only two countries have beaten Ghana at home in World Cup Qualifiers since 1960.

Specific Matches:

• Qualification to France 1998 World Cup 
August 17, 1997
Venue: Obuasi Len Clay Sports Stadium 
Ghana                             0-2 Sierra Leone 
Abubakar Camara, Mohammed Kalloum

NB: Ghana squad: Leonard Moffat (GK), Adjetey Lee, Edward Agyemang Duah, Joe Okyere, Princeton Owusu Ansah, Yaw Owusu, Isaac Quinoo, Richard Ackon, Eben Dadzie, Joe Debrah. Ghana replaced Leonard Moffat for Richard Obimpeh.

• In that year, Coach Herbert Addo took over from Coach Rinus Israel's team, which had played the first leg in Freetown and ended in a 1-1 draw.

• Ghana’s squad for the first leg: Simon Addo, Frank Amankwaa, Patrick Allotey, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Mohammed Gargo, Sam Johnson, Christian Sabbah, Arthur Moses/Kwame Ayew, Tony Yeboah/Mallam Yahya, Abedi Pele, C.K. Akunnor

 • Qualification to South Korea and Japan 2002 World Cup 
January 28, 2001
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium 
Ghana                             1-3 Liberia 
Emmanuel Duah//Frank Seator, Oliver Makor, Shannon Musah
NB: Liberia team was led by the veteran George Oppong Weah

• Ghana squad: Richard Kingston, Stephen Baidoo, Jacob Nettey, Sammy Kuffour, Sam Johnson, Mark Edusei, Otto Addo/Yaw Preko, Stephen Appiah, Charles Amoah/Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, C. K. Akonnor, Emmanuel Duah 

Mali's World Cup Qualifiers Away Record

Mali has played 27 World Cup Qualifiers games away since their first attempt for the 2002 South Korea and Japan World Cup, with a record of W6 D8 L13 GF22 GA35.

Away Wins
Mali has been able to beat only five countries away in World Cup Qualifiers since their first attempt for the South Korean and Japan 2002 World Cup. 

- Qualification to Germany 2006 World Cup: October 10, 2003, Guinea Bissau 1-2 Mali

- Qualification to South Africa 2010 World Cup: June 7, 2008, Chad 1-2 Mali

- Qualification to Brazil 2014 World Cup: March 24, 2013, Rwanda 1-2 Mali

- Qualification to Qatar 2022 World Cup: October 10, 2021, Kenya 0-1 Mali and November 11, 2021, Rwanda 0-3 Mali

- Qualification to 2026 World Cup: March 20, 2025, Comoros 0-3 Mali

World Cup Qualifiers games in September:

Ghana's World Cup Qualifiers Record in September:
. Ghana has played 11 World Cup Qualifiers games in the month of September since 1960, with a record of W6 D3 L2 GF18 GA8.

- September 10, 1960: Nigeria 2-2 Ghana
- September 5, 2004: Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde
- September 4, 2005: Ghana 2-0 Uganda
- September 5, 2008: Libya 1-0 Ghana
- September 6, 2009: Ghana 2-0 Sudan
- September 6, 2013: Ghana 2-1 Zambia
- September 1, 2017: Ghana 1-1 Congo
- September 5, 2017: Congo 1-5 Ghana
- September 3, 2021: Ghana 1-0 Ethiopia
- September 6, 2021: South Africa 1-0 Ghana
- September 4, 2025: Chad 1-1 Ghana

Mali's Record:
Mali's World Cup Qualifiers Record in September. 
. Mali has played 11 World Cup Qualifiers games in the month of September since 2000, with a record of W3 D5 L3 GF9 GA11.

- September 5, 2004: Mali 2-2 Senegal
- September 3, 2005: Mali 2-0 Congo
- September 7, 2008: Congo 1-0 Mali
- September 6, 2009: Benin 1-1 Mali
- September 10, 2013: Algeria 1-0 Mali
- September 1, 2017: Morocco 6-0 Mali
- September 5, 2017: Mali 0-0 Morocco
- September 1, 2021: Mali 1-0 Rwanda
- September 6, 2021: Uganda 0-0 Mali
- September 4, 2025: Mali 3-0 Comoros

Two Nations' Games on September 8:

Ghana's Record on September 8.
. Ghana has played 3 games on September 8 in all competitions since 1960, with a record of W2 L1 GF4 GA1.

- September 8, 2007 (International Friendly): Ghana 2-0 Morocco (Junior Agogo 47', Ahmed Barusso 67')

- September 8, 2012 (AFCON Qualifiers): Ghana 2-0 Malawi (Christian Atsu 8', Anthony Annan 51')

- September 8, 2018 (AFCON Qualifiers): Kenya 1-0 Ghana (Nicholas Opoku 40' OG)

Mali's Record on September 8.

. Since 1972, Mali has won all its games on September 8 in all competitions (W2 GF7 GA0).

- September 8, 2012 (AFCON Qualifiers): Mali 3-0 Botswana (Cheick Diabate 27' pen, Mahamadou N'Diaye 59', Modibo Maiga 77')

- September 8, 2023 (AFCON Qualifiers): Mali 4-0 South Sudan (Ibrahima Kone 10', Kamory Doumbia 29', 57', Dorgeles Nene 82')

Recent Performance

Ghana's Recent Performance
The Ghana Black Stars are unbeaten in their last 5 FIFA World Cup qualifiers (W4 D1 GF15 GA5).
- March 24, 2025: Madagascar 0-3 Ghana
- March 21, 2025: Ghana 5-0 Chad
- June 10, 2024: Ghana 4-3 Central African Republic
- June 6, 2024: Mali 1-2 Ghana
- September 4, 2025: Chad 1-1 Ghana

Ghana's Recent Loss
The last time the Black Stars of Ghana lost a game in a World Cup qualifier was November 21, 2023, when Comoros won 1-0 in a Group I fixture courtesy of Maolida Myziane at the Stade de Moroni.

 Mali's Recent Performance
The Eagles of Mali are unbeaten in their last 4 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers games (W2 D2 GF6 GA0).
- June 11, 2024: Madagascar 0-0 Mali
- March 20, 2025: Comoros 0-3 Mali
- March 20, 2025: Central African Republic 0-0 Mali
- September 4, 2025: Mali 3-0 Comoros

Mali's Recent Lost:
•The last time the Eagles of Mali lost a game in World Cup qualifiers was on June 6, 2024, when Ghana beat them 2-1 at Match Day 3 in Group I of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers .

•Ghana tops Group I with 16 points after Match Day 7, while Mali, on the other hand, sits in 3rd place with 12 points in the World Cup Qualifiers log.