Five things learnt from Black Stars' important 2-1 victory over Mali in World Cup qualifiers

A 2-1 victory over the Eagles of Mali has put Ghana's bid for qualification to the 2026 World Cup firmly on track, with the Black Stars now second in Group I of the qualifiers.

Goals from Ernest Nuamah and Jordan Ayew ensured that Ghana secured their first victory in 2024, earning three points that will have a significant impact on the country's chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

Ghana, starting the game slowly, grew into the match and dominated the latter part of the first half, despite being sucker-punched by a Malian lead in the dying embers of the first half. The Stars, with their backs against the wall, managed to score two goals in the second half to get their qualification campaign back on track.

Here are five things we have all learned from the game

Otto Addo got the setup right

Taking over a team that has conceded ten goals in its last five matches, the first task is to devise a strategy to stop the leaking defence.

It made sense, then, that Otto Addo opted for a structure that provided Ghana with proper defensive cover. Defensively, Ghana lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, and in attack, they transitioned to a 3-5-2.

Though the initial stages of the game appeared chaotic, which is understandable, the Black Stars eventually found some rhythm and demonstrated an understanding of the defensive shape.

Ghana still needs an Ayew

There is an unwritten belief that football has gods who sometimes manipulate events in the spiritual realm to manifest beautifully on the pitch.

Jordan Ayew, starting from the bench and coming on to score an important goal, is an event that football fans would agree was scripted by the football gods.

In a period where the Ayew family has once again dominated headlines, Jordan Ayew proved why the nation still needs someone from the family with an extremely important winner.

3-back system could unlock Tariq Lamptey

Tariq Lamptey delivered his best performance in a Ghana jersey in a game where he was deployed as a right-wing-back.

Lamptey's contributions to both attack and defence were significant, and he was outstanding. He ended the game as one of Ghana's best players on the day.

Why is Kudus struggling?

Mohammed Kudus, the star man of the team, has more than justified the tag, but against Mali, the forward struggled.

Kudus' struggle in the match could be attributed to several factors, including pressure, positioning, and the setup by Otto Addo.

The West Ham forward could not impact the game, and Ghanaians will be hoping that against the Central African Republic on Monday, he will rediscover his form and impress for Ghana.

Ati-Zigi has arrived

Despite his constant presence in the national team, there used to be doubts about the competence of Ati-Zigi, but those doubts will certainly be put to rest by his performance against Mali on Thursday.

Two fantastic saves in the opening minutes of the first half ensured that Ghana survived an early onslaught by Mali.

He had a good game, and this performance will certainly boost his confidence as Ghana's number-one goalkeeper.