Mali eye early quarters slot, Ghana seek redemption
A West African derby between Ghana and Mali draped in a must-win matchup coating will kickstart the Group C second round games at the ongoing TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024 on Friday, July 11 at 5pm (local time) at the Berkane Stadium in Morocco.
The Black Queens of Ghana find themselves between a rock and a hard place after losing their opener 0-2 against the defending champions South Africa on Monday. “We have the same mentality coming into the game against Mali. We want to win every single game that we play. We have watched a lot of film, and we know that we are playing against a tough team so it will not be easy.”
Channeling positives to results
They say one needs luck in football. Alice Kusi and Evelyn Badu hit the crossbar and yet had these opportunities been converted, the Black Queens would be singing a different song now.
Kim Lars Björkegren, the Ghana head coach said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday, “We were the better team for most of the game against South Africa, but we did not find the back of the net. We would have preferred to come into this game with Mali with three points, but it does not matter now. Our goal has not changed. We want to win.”
The Black Queens had 13 shots at goal, two more than South Africa and had four corners, three more than the Banyana Banyana. It is these statistics that are helping Ghana keep their heads up despite sitting bottom of a very tricky Group C.
“We are focusing on ourselves. Our fitness is where we want it to be. We believe in our abilities, in our style but we must stay cleaner in the box,” Björkegren added emphatically.
Ghana conceded a penalty converted by Linda Motlhalo in the 28th minute, that changed the rhythm of the game. South Africa scored six minutes later and that lapse in concentration is what the Swedish tactician wants his side to address on Friday evening.
Björkegren will welcome into the fold assistant captain Jennifer Cudjoe who was suspended for the opener. Her presence means that she brings midfield excellence, tactical acumen and the hunger to deliver. Watching from the stands was not easy for her on Monday. “We must do this for the fans back home and across the world,” Cudjoe said with a calm around her.
Against Mali, they face a team that is efficient even when they do not have more ball possession. With the experience of the forward quartet China-based Saratou Traore who scored the lone goal against Tanzania on Monday, Kadidiatou Diabate, Aissata Traore and Aguiessa Diarra upfront, the Ghanaian defense have their work cut out on Friday in a must-win encounter for both sides.
More work to do
Les Aigles Dames are riding the dark horse wave, and it is working for them so far. Based in Berkane in the Oriental Province in the northeastern part of Morocco, the 2018 semifinalists are quietly getting the real work done. Away from capital limelight of Group A and B in Rabat and Casablanca – very robust cities, the Malians are keeping a low profile in Berkane.
“Winning our first game means that we have a mental edge going into the game against Ghana. We know our potential and quality within the squad. It is indeed a West African derby, but all the teams are physical, and we expect Ghana to be physical. We are prepared,” Houssein Salloum Mohamed, the Mali head coach said in a very laid-back tone.
This will be the fifth time that the two teams are meeting at the WAFCON with Ghana walking away with three victories: 2-0 in 2022, 1-0 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2016. However, at home in 2018, the Black Queens lost to Mali for the first time ever in this competition and it is that result that Mohamed who has coached this team since 2017 wants to replicate.
“I have been in charge of this team for eight years now. I understand the players and we continue to grow every other day. We want to achieve the same feat – reach the semifinals like we did in 2018 and why not go to the final? This is our objective. We want to do this for our fans, our families back home and across the world,” Mohamed added.
Coming off their first ever opening game win at the WAFCON and first ever clean sheet at the continental showpiece, Mohamed believes that Mali can engage another gear. Four of Mali’s six all-time WAFCON wins have come in second group games.
Winning against Ghana will also have a dimension to improve this record but more importantly booking a place to the quarterfinals.