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Ayew clinches dramatic win for Black Stars in Bamako
Jordan Ayew of Ghana ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Thursday Jun 06, 2024. 23:38
Ghana breathed new life into their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign after battling back from a goal down to beat Mali 2-1 at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako on Thursday, June 6.
Otto Addo recorded his first competitive win since returning to the helm in March as the Black Stars moved up to second place in Group I on six points, two ahead of the Eagles, who dropped down to third.
Addo’s side needed victory on matchday 3 to stay in touch with group leaders Comoros ahead of their clash with Madagascar on Friday, June 7, having picked up just three points from their opening two matches.
Mali were two points behind the Coelacanths after running out 3-1 victors over Chad and playing out to a 1-1 draw with Central African Republic in November.
The hosts made a bright start and tested Lawrence Ati-Zigi twice inside the opening 10 minutes, with the St Gallen goalkeeper needing to be at his best to keep Ghana in the game.
Mohammed Kudus then tried his luck from range at the other end on 26 minutes, but he failed to hit the target with was the closest the Black Stars got in the first half.
Eric Chelle’s side would break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, however, when Kamory Doumbia notched the seventh goal of his international career.
Their lead lasted just 13 minutes though, as Ernest Nuamah guided a header past Mamadou Samassa after getting on the end of an exquisite cross from Salis Abdul Samed in the 58th minute.
Both teams pushed for the winner and it was Jordan Ayew who popped up with the all-important goal at the death to send the travelling Ghana fans into raptures.
Mali (1) 1 (Doumbia 45+1′)
Ghana (0) 2 (Nuamah 58′, Ayew 90+4′)
Mali: M. Samassa, F. Sacko, M. Sagnan (K. Kouyate 56′), S. Niakate, D. Guindo, L. Coulibaly (D. Nene 65′), A. Haidara (D. Samassekou 56′), M. Camara, K. Doumbia, A. Traore, L. Sinayoko (E. Toure 56′).
Ghana: L. Ati-Zigi, A. Djiku, G. Mensah, T. Lamptey, M. Salisu, A. Seidu (A. Mumin 79′), T. Partey, M. Kudus, S. Abdul Samed, A. Semenyo (J. Ayew 79′), E. Nuamah (E. Owusu 72′).
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