Black Stars coach, Otto Addo
Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, had plenty of reasons to smile after his team delivered a stunning win on the road in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali on Thursday.
We came from behind to record a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Eagles of Mali and also secured our first competitive win in 2024. After the game, the boss was asked about the performance, nerves, the state of mind going into the next game, and playing in the unusual temperature in Bamako.
Here's a full transcript of the post-match press conference:
On problems in the early stages of the game:
In the first twenty minutes, we encountered significant problems. Mali applied good pressure; we struggled to stand firm and allowed them to create chances. After that, the tempo of the game decreased, and we controlled the match until they scored. Going down 0-1 was a bit unnecessary. It was a fortunate goal, but in the second half, we came back stronger. We deserved to get the equalizer; we had some good crosses and chances that didn't go in, but later we scored. After the goal, Mali made some changes; we faced some difficulties, so we also had to make some adjustments. It's very important for the team to understand that this is a collective effort. Not only the starting eleven decides the game, but also those on the bench, and Fatawu did a good job pressing, winning the ball. Jordan was there, and he scored. In the end, he was a bit lucky to score, but I think overall, it was well-deserved.
On playing in unusual weather conditions:
We played well under these circumstances; 42 degrees is very hot for us, but I think we did well to finish this game as winners.
On going into the game with a winning mentality:
We had a win in mind, but I wanted to get a feel for the game first. It was very difficult for me to play a fully attacking game because Mali is a good team, and it's very hot here. So, I had to see how the game would unfold and decide whether to put in more offensive or defensive players. In the end, we made changes by bringing on more offensive players, and they scored for us.
On the fighting spirit:
I think we had a very good fighting spirit, but this game was on a knife-edge; it was 50/50. Mali had some good chances; they have a very good team. I don't think it's fair for the fans to boo the players, to be honest, because this game was even. And in the end, our substitutes made the difference; we scored, and we are happy. But it's true, we had a very good fighting spirit.
On keeping the three-back system:
Every game has different demands. For this game, I chose this system, but for the next game, I might choose something else; I don't know yet. So we will look closely at what we can do against the Central African Republic. To be honest, it's going to be tougher because now everybody expects us to win, and it's going to be difficult, just like today. These games are on the edge. If you look at all the games, they are all close. The Central African Republic picked up a draw against Mali, so we have to expect a very strong team against us. They won 1-0 yesterday, so it's very tight, and it's going to be difficult. Like I said, every game demands different options, different actions because Mali plays differently from the Central African Republic. I can't say I will play the same; maybe I will do so if it seems to be the right thing, but for now, I don't know.
