Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has come to the defense of the Mali players after fans booed them off the pitch following their 2-1 loss to Ghana on Thursday night.
Ghana managed to snatch all three points in Bamako, moving up to second place in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Mali, who were the favorites going into the game, were unable to maintain their lead as the Black Stars put on a stellar performance in the scorching heat of the 26th March Stadium. The match saw temperatures as high as 42 degrees, forcing the teams to take cooling breaks on two occasions.
During his post-match press conference, Otto Addo acknowledged the strength of the Mali team and expressed his disapproval of the fans booing them. He stated, “Mali have a good team. I don’t think it’s fair for the fans to boo the team. This was an even game, to be honest. Our substitutions won the game.”
Ghana will now prepare to host the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Monday for their fourth World Cup qualifier match. With six points after three games, Ghana currently holds the second spot in Group I.
