Our substitutions made the difference in the win over Mali – Ghana coach Otto Addo

Ghana's head coach, Otto Addo, has stated that the substitutions made during the game against Mali played a key role in the team's victory.

The Black Stars fought hard on Thursday night and scored late to secure a win over the Eagles in the third round of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In a post-match interview, Coach Otto Addo described the game as challenging.

He attributed his team's victory to the strategic substitutions made during the match.

"In the first 20 minutes, we struggled, but in the second half, we were better. Fatawu did great with his pressing late in the game. I think we coped well with the conditions here.

"I believe we had a good fighting spirit, but the game was evenly matched at 50-50. In the end, it was our substitutes who made the difference," Coach Otto Addo remarked.

With Ghana's win over Mali, the Black Stars now hold the second position in Group I, leading up to their match against the Central African Republic.