Mali Meets Ghana as CAF’s Strong Sides Face Off
Mali vs Ghana WC Preview: Ghana on Seven Game Winless Streak
Mali Emerging as one of Africa’s Strongest Teams
In the past year, Ghana have won just three of their 13 games, in all competitions. The Black Stars head to Mali on Thursday on a seven-game winless run and they need to turn around their form in short order. Mali, emerging as one of Africa’s strongest teams, rarely loses at home and is looking to remain unbeaten in CAF World Cup qualifiers. However, their captain Hamari Traore is suspended. In our Mali vs Ghana WC preview, we’ll take a closer look at the standings, odds, and team news.
Mali vs Ghana
📊Records: Mali (1-1-0), Ghana (1-0-1)
📍Location: Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali
⏰Day/Time: 📺Stream: FIFA+
Mali vs Ghana Head-to-Head:
This is the first time these teams are meeting on the FIFA World Cup schedule in qualifiers since 2009. There, Ghana drew and defeated Mali. Still, our Mali vs Ghana WC preview notes that Mali has lost just one of their last four games vs. Ghana, in all competitions. These sides last met in a 2020 friendly, which Mali won 3-0. Hamari Traore, El Bilal Toure, and Amadou Haidara were all on the scoresheet for Mali.
Mali: Tough Team to Beat
Mali, under coach Eric Chelle, haven’t lost any of their last 14 matches in normal time. Yes, Mali did exit the Africa Cup of Nations in the Quarter-Finals, but it took extra time for Ivory Coast to knock out Mali. Now, Mali has a good opportunity to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, especially with the expanded format.
Les Aigles have opened up qualifiers with a 1-1-0 record, with a win over Chad and a draw vs. Central African Republic. Unfortunately, Mali captain and defender Hamari Traore is suspended for this pair of qualifiers. Meanwhile, Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma is nursing a knee injury. Mali have one of the breakout stars of the 2023-24 season, Kamory Doumbia. The midfielder scored Ligue 1’s goal of the season and helped Brest qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Doumbia has scored in both of Mali’s matches in CAF World Cup qualifying thus far and should play a key role this month. Meanwhile, striker El Bilal Toure is finally healthy following a long injury layoff. He recently won the Europa League with Atalanta and has scored seven goals in 17 Mali appearances. Midfielders Mohamed Camara and Amadou Haidara are two other players to watch for Mali.
Addo Back for Second Stint With Ghana
Ghana’s poor showing at the Africa Cup of Nations led to coach Chris Hughton’s dismissal. The Black Stars drew twice and lost en route to a Group Stage exit. Otto Addo, who helped Ghana qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has taken over for a second spell in charge of the Ghana national team. In his first couple of matches back, Ghana lost to Nigeria and drew at Uganda in a pair of March friendlies.
The Black Stars haven’t won since last November, when Iñaki Williams scored the game’s only goal in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier vs. Madagascar. Williams, who played a key role for Athletic Bilbao this season, is out of the squad for this pair of qualifiers. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey missed AFCON and his presence in the squad is a big boost.
Without Williams, players like Mohamed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, and Osman Bukari will be relied upon to score goals. Ghana are on a five-game scoring streak but they have conceded two goals in each of those games. Defense is certainly Ghana’s weak point.
Mali vs Ghana Analysis & Odds
Our Mali vs Ghana WC preview notes Mali took down both Mauritania and Nigeria in March friendlies. Mali is the more in-form group heading into this match and Mali comes in at even moneyline odds for Friday’s match. It will be a challenge to get all three points without Traore and Bissouma but Mali’s confidence has been skyrocketing in recent years.
Meanwhile, it seems like Ghana has underperformed expectations for quite some time. Still, Kudus can create something out of nothing and the Black Stars can’t be completely counted out. Ghana are +300 underdogs for this match, while a draw sits at +230.
Mali have conceded just three goals in their last seven games and under 2, 2.5 goals come in at -125. While Mali’s even moneyline odds are the same as their handicap odds, punters can find Ghana +0.5 at -120. We’re expecting this to be a close match and it’s one Ghana need to grab a result in, or else they’ll fall four points behind Mali.
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