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New Black Stars coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor will look to start his journey on a positive note when Ghana take on tough opponents Mali in a preparatory game today ahead of the AFCON playoffs that will resume in November.
Akonnor, who replaced former boss Kwesi Appiah in March, will use this encounter as an evaluation before his double head from AFCON next month.
Four-time AFCON winner Ghana last won against Mali by a small margin during AFCON 2017 in Gabon, where the Stars took a 1-0 win courtesy of Asamoah Gyan in the group stage and would like to continue to dominate its West African giants. today.
Ghana has faced Mali 23 times in all competitions, the first on August 28, 1960, where the stars inflicted their biggest victory: a 4-1 win over them in a friendly game that amounted to 11 wins, seven draws. and five ended in losses for Ghana.
Known for his exploits with VFL Wolfsburg during his five years with the German team, Akonnor will approach the game with a German tactic. Considering the physique and pace of the Malians, the former Ghanaian international could deploy a possible 4-4-2 or 4-3-2-1 approach.
Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew will lead the charge and is likely to pair him with Trabzonspor’s Caleb Ekuban up front.
Midfield is likely to see the duo of Thomas Partey and Baba Idriss with Skipper Andre Ayew and Samuel Owusu or Jeffery Schlupp operating from the right flank.
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The defense will see Joseph Aidoo and Kassim Nuhu as centrals with Portugal-based Gideon Mensah and Nicholas Opoku occupying the right and left wings, respectively.
However, an attacking system could see Jordan Ayew playing as a lone forward up front with Andre Ayew and Thomas Partey playing as support forwards, Idriss Baba as the central midfielder and Samuel Owusu / Jerry Schllup and Bernard Mensah as wingers. The bottom line is likely to hold.
Ghana could follow any of the above approaches against Mali today and Qatar on Monday.
61-year-old coach Mohamed Magassouba, who replaced Frenchman Alan Giresse in 2017, saw his permanent role in October 2019 ahead of the 2021 AFCON qualifiers.
Today’s clash will be his first meeting with Ghana since he took office, as the last five meetings between the two have seen Mali take two wins, two draws and one loss.
Known for their physique, the Eagles could maintain a more offensive role with a 4-3-2-1 approach.
FC Porto’s Moussa Merga could lead the attack due to his pace and strength with Southampton FC’s Moussa Djenepo and Adama Malouda Traoré – Al-Adalah as support attackers.
The midfield will feature Everton’s Amadou Haidara, Lassana Coulibaly and Abdoulaye Doucoure in a diamond formation.
The bottom line will have Molla Wague as the patron. He will be paired with Hamari Traore in the central defender role with Youssouf Kone and Falaye Sacko filling the left and right back positions.
