Otto Addo responds to Mali coachâ??s criticism of Ghanaâ??s tactics

Ghana coach Otto Addo has defended his tactical approach in the Black Stars’ 1-0 victory over Mali, after Eagles coach Tom Saintfiet questioned why Ghana opted for a more defensive game despite the quality in their squad.

Saintfiet admitted he expected Ghana, four-time African champions, to attack from the start but was surprised by their cautious setup in Monday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Addo, however, insisted his game plan was deliberate and effective, pointing to the importance of securing the result over style.

"Yeah, so this is football, you know, sometimes you have to switch the tactics," Addo said. "I knew that they needed to win, so we played a little bit more defensively, and we had good headers in our team because we have three tall defenders. At the end, this is his opinion. It’s okay, I understand, but I had my tactics, we had our tactics, and we decided well, I think, because what’s most important is the three points and we got it, and that’s fine."

Djiku’s scrappy second-half goal earned Ghana a crucial win that keeps them top of Group I with 19 points, just one victory away from qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

By Enoch Fiifi Forson

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