Black Stars Head Coach Otto Addo has praised his players for their determination and defensive resilience following Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

A second-half strike from Alexander Djiku secured all three points for Ghana on Monday, keeping the team top of Group I with 19 points from seven matches. Addo admitted that the game was tense, but insisted the players had shown great character in seeing out the result.

“You could see that we have a young squad and players who haven’t been playing often for the national team, so we were a little bit nervous here and there,” Addo said at the post-match press conference. “But after 50 minutes we got into the game. We increased the pressure early in the second half and managed to score out of a set piece. Then it was pure fight afterwards. Mali put us under pressure but not with real chances, mostly long shots, and our defence gave everything.”

He commended Antoine Semenyo for his tireless work up front, describing him as “the lone fighter” who pressed the Malian defence until he was substituted. Addo also congratulated debutant Kwasi Sibo, whom he called “a warrior throughout,” adding that his club performances would determine future call-ups.

The coach defended his decision to delay substitutions, noting that players like Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew “still had moments where they could create something.” He said Kamaldeen Sulemana, Joseph Paintsil and Inaki Williams added fresh energy late on but regretted that Ghana could not make better use of their counter-attacking opportunities.

Addo acknowledged that some players needed to simplify their play, pointing to Gideon Mensah in particular. “Sometimes he’s a little bit too confident,” he said. “He needs to simplify his game in Africa, where the rhythm and style are different from La Liga.”

On criticism from the Malian coach about Ghana’s tactics, Addo was firm: “We played a little more defensively because we knew they needed to win. What’s most important is the three points, and we got it.”

The coach also urged Ghanaians to temper their expectations, warning against complacency. “Everybody was talking before the Chad game that we had already won. It’s dangerous. We are not at the World Cup yet. We have a lot of work to do, and every opponent must be respected,” he said.

Ghana will next face the Central African Republic away on October 6, before returning home to play Comoros on October 10 as they continue their push for qualification.