Mali's head coach Tom Saintfiet has confidently backed Ghana to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing the Black Stars' superior squad depth and quality as decisive factors following his team's 1-0 defeat in Accra.
Speaking after the match decided by Alexander Djiku's second-half goal, Saintfiet emphasized that Ghana's abundance of talent makes them clear favorites to top Group I.
"Ghana has so many quality players," Saintfiet stated. "Look at where the players are playing, look at the choices the coach has on the bench, look at the players who weren't selected and available - so in theory, there can't be any problem for Ghana to qualify as number one."
The victory maintained Ghana's position at the group summit with 19 points from eight matches, holding a three-point advantage over Madagascar and a four-point cushion over third-placed Comoros.
Saintfiet specifically pointed to Ghana's upcoming final qualifier against Comoros on October 11 as a match the Black Stars should comfortably navigate.
Ghana's path to the World Cup now involves securing positive results against Central African Republic on October 8 before hosting Comoros three days later.
With their depth of European-based professionals and home advantage in the decisive fixture, the Black Stars remain well-positioned to secure their place in the 2026 tournament despite the competitive nature of African qualifying.
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