{"id":44480,"date":"2025-09-10T09:39:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/?p=44480"},"modified":"2025-09-10T09:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:39:41","slug":"ghana-was-afraid-of-us-mali-coach-tom-saintfiet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/ghana-was-afraid-of-us-mali-coach-tom-saintfiet\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Ghana was afraid of us&#8221; &#8211; Mali coach Tom Saintfiet"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><strong>Mali head coach, Tom Saintfiet, has revealed that he was surprised by the defensive tactics Ghana deployed when the pair clashed at the Accra Sports Stadium.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div>The two countries went head-to-head in a bid to secure a slot at next year\u2019s 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.<\/div>\n<div>Ghana\u2019s Otto Addo deployed a 3-4-3 formation with Caleb Yirenkyi and Gideon Mensah deployed as full-backs for the duel against Mali.<\/div>\n<div>READ MORE: <a title=\"2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Five things we learned from Ghana vs Mali\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/2026-world-cup-qualifiers-five-things-we-learned-from-ghana-vs-mali\/\">2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Five things we learned from Ghana vs Mali<\/a><\/div>\n<div>A tactic that Tom Saintfiet was taken aback by, considering the attacking potential in the Black Stars.<\/div>\n<div><em>\u201cWe expected Ghana to be more offensive with the likes of Semenyo, Kudus, Inaki, and the attacking wingbacks; you could punish us with more offensive play at home with the fans behind them.<\/em><\/div>\n<div><em>\u201cI thought Ghana would start with a more aggressive attacking football in the first fifteen minutes after their not-so-good performance against Chad, but they were conservative in their approach.\u201d<\/em><\/div>\n<div>Djiku\u2019s second-half header proved the decisive goal between the two powerhouses of African football at a packed forty-five thousand stadium capacity in Accra.<\/div>\n<div>READ MORE: <a title=\"Match Highlights : Ghana 1-0 Mali\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/match-highlights-ghana-1-0-mali\/\">Match Highlights: Ghana 1-0 Mali<\/a><\/div>\n<div>The Black Stars top the pack with 19 points, three points off Madagascar, seven points off Mali, with the October qualifiers looming.<\/div>\n<div>READ MORE: <a title=\"WCQ26 : Djiku\u2019s header aids BlackStars over Mali in Accra\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wcq26-djikus-header-aids-blackstars-over-mali-in-accra\/\">WCQ26: Djiku\u2019s header aids BlackStars over Mali in Accra<\/a><\/div>\n<div>Mali\u2019s hopes of securing qualifications have been dented following their harrowing loss to the Black Stars of Ghana.<\/div>\n<div>With two games to go, they have Chad and Madagascar to play after picking up 12 points from 8 games.<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mali head coach, Tom Saintfiet, has revealed that he was surprised by the defensive tactics Ghana deployed when the pair clashed at the Accra Sports Stadium. The two countries went head-to-head in a bid to secure a slot at next year\u2019s 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Ghana\u2019s Otto Addo deployed a 3-4-3 formation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17014,8417],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44480","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-2026-fifa-world-cup","8":"category-featured"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tom-Saintfiet.jpeg?fit=2048%2C1536&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8jzHl-bzq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44475,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/match-highlights-ghana-1-0-mali\/","url_meta":{"origin":44480,"position":0},"title":"Match Highlights : Ghana 1-0 Mali","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"September 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Alex Djiku\u2019s solitary goal proved to be the match-winner between the Black Stars of Ghana and Mali in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Accra Sports Stadium. \u00a0 Both teams came into the game with the sole ambition of picking all three points, but it was the home\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;2026 FIFA World Cup&quot;","block_context":{"text":"2026 FIFA World Cup","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/2026-fifa-world-cup\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44474,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/2026-world-cup-qualifiers-five-things-we-learned-from-ghana-vs-mali\/","url_meta":{"origin":44480,"position":1},"title":"2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Five things we learned from Ghana vs Mali","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"September 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"When it mattered the most, the Black Stars of Ghana took a giant leap in securing qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America following their home win over Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium. \u00a0 Djiku\u2019s match-winner proved the difference between the two countries in a keenly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;2026 FIFA World Cup&quot;","block_context":{"text":"2026 FIFA World Cup","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/2026-fifa-world-cup\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GHANA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GHANA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GHANA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GHANA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GHANA.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44470,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wcq26-djikus-header-aids-blackstars-over-mali-in-accra\/","url_meta":{"origin":44480,"position":2},"title":"WCQ26 : Djiku&#8217;s header aids BlackStars over Mali in Accra","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"September 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Black Stars bolstered their chances of securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a slender home win over Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium. Djiku\u2019s second-half header proved the decisive goal between the two powerhouses of African football at a packed forty-five thousand stadium capacity in Accra.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;2026 FIFA World Cup&quot;","block_context":{"text":"2026 FIFA World Cup","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/2026-fifa-world-cup\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-2-pics.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-2-pics.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-2-pics.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-2-pics.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-2-pics.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41636,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wcq26-match-preview-mali-take-on-ghana-in-bamako\/","url_meta":{"origin":44480,"position":3},"title":"WCQ26 Match Preview : Mali take on Ghana in Bamako","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"June 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Ghana and Mali will go head-to-head for their third game for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 19:00 GMT, at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako. The game holds a lot of prominence for both sets of teams in the ongoing 2026 FIFA\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;2026 FIFA World Cup&quot;","block_context":{"text":"2026 FIFA World Cup","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/2026-fifa-world-cup\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ghana-vs-mali.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ghana-vs-mali.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ghana-vs-mali.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ghana-vs-mali.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ghana-vs-mali.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41497,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/2026-wcq-black-stars-to-begin-camping-for-mali-car-games-on-may-30\/","url_meta":{"origin":44480,"position":4},"title":"2026 WCQ: Black Stars to begin camping for Mali, CAR games on May 30.","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"May 27, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Black Stars will kickstart preparations in Accra on\u00a0May,30 ahead of their doubleheader World Cup qualifiers. \u00a0 The BlackStars players will converge in the nation's capital for intense preparations as they gear towards Mali and the Central African Republic games for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. READ MORE:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/SALISU-NUAMAH.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/SALISU-NUAMAH.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/SALISU-NUAMAH.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/SALISU-NUAMAH.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/SALISU-NUAMAH.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44483,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/we-will-build-stadia-in-all-the-new-regions-president-mahama\/","url_meta":{"origin":44480,"position":5},"title":"\u201cWe will build stadia in all the new regions&#8221; &#8211; President Mahama","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"September 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed government plans to provide modern sports infrastructure in regions without standard stadia. Speaking to journalists at a press engagement on Wednesday night, the first gentleman of the land underscored that plans are underway to replicate the Tarkwa GoldFields stadium model across the country. READ\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/John-Mahama.jpeg?fit=937%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/John-Mahama.jpeg?fit=937%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/John-Mahama.jpeg?fit=937%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/John-Mahama.jpeg?fit=937%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44480"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44482,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44480\/revisions\/44482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}