Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has declared his side are in Accra to make history as they prepare to face Ghana in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The stakes are immense, with Ghana chasing a fifth appearance at the finals and Mali dreaming of their first.
The two teams enter Monday night’s clash at the Accra Sports Stadium with contrasting results from their last outings. Mali’s 3-0 victory over Comoros injected fresh confidence, while Ghana stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Chad on a pitch that Black Stars boss Otto Addo compared to “concrete.”
That result means Ghana still lead Group I with 16 points, four clear of Mali, who sit third with three games left. For Saintfiet, this is the moment his squad must seize if they are to rewrite their footballing story. “Ghana is a good team in Africa, they are number one in our group, four points ahead of us, so it will be a tough match. But we are here to write history and we want to win here,” he said on arrival in Accra.
The Belgian coach has stressed his team will not be distracted by external factors, dismissing pitch complaints that have dominated Ghana’s build-up. “I am not the kind of coach who talks about pitches and circumstances. The pitch is for both teams, the same level. We will play tomorrow on any pitch and we will play a good game with our potential,” Saintfiet noted.
That mindset reflects a broader confidence within Mali’s camp. Their win over Comoros showcased attacking precision and defensive discipline, attributes they must carry into Accra. It also highlighted the hunger of a side desperate to qualify for their first-ever World Cup, a milestone that would mark a seismic moment in the nation’s sporting history.
Ghana, meanwhile, know the pressure is firmly on their shoulders. With five previous World Cup appearances, expectations are always high, and dropping points against Chad has only intensified scrutiny on Otto Addo’s men. The reverse fixture saw Ghana edge Mali 2-1 in Bamako, but home advantage is now on their side, and the Black Stars cannot afford another slip.
