Mali triumphs over Nigeria in friendly, setting the stage for Ghana’s World Cup qualifier showdown

Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers opponent, Mali, secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Tuesday in an international friendly match.

El Bilal Toure and Kamory Doumbia netted the goals that propelled Mali to their impressive win, sending a clear message to their competitors in Group I of the World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana currently sits in 4th place in Group I, having accumulated three points from their first two games. Mali, on the other hand, occupies the 2nd spot with four points, just behind the group leaders Comoros. With Comoros, Central African Republic, Madagascar, and Chad also vying for qualification, the competition remains fierce.

As Ghana prepares for their crucial encounter against Mali on June 3, 2024, in Bamako, their recent test games have yielded mixed results.

The Black Stars suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Nigeria and managed a 2-2 draw against Uganda. These outcomes underscore the challenge that lies ahead for Ghana as they aim to improve their standing in the group and progress in the World Cup qualifiers.