Ghana 1-0 Mali Player Ratings: Alexander Djiku 8/10 Rated as Ghana Secures Vital 1-0 Victory Over Mali

Gameweek 8 of the WC Qualifiers Africa between Ghana and Mali was a tense, gritty encounter. The game turned out to be exactly what you'd expect from a high-stakes CAF World Cup Qualifier. The first half was a chess match. Neither Ghana nor Mali wanted to give an inch. Both teams seemed more afraid of losing than desperate to win early on. Chances were few and far between. The entire complexion of the match changed just after the break. Ghana came out with renewed purpose, and it paid off immediately. Defender Alexander Djiku found himself in the right place at the right time to fire his team ahead. It was a goal that felt like it was always going to decide this contest.

From that point on, Ghana managed the game superbly. They absorbed pressure from Mali, who, despite making a flurry of substitutions, couldn't find a way through. It became a bit scrappy, with yellow cards for Jonas Adjetey and Thomas Partey, but Ghana held on for a massive 1-0 victory. Here are the Ghana vs Mali player ratings.

Ghana Player Ratings vs Mali

Here are the Ghana player ratings.

Goalkeeper

B. Asare - 6.5: A clean sheet is a clean sheet. He wasn't peppered with shots but did everything required of him with confidence. What stood out to us was his command of the penalty area on the few crosses Mali sent in. He looked calm under pressure and distributed the ball effectively to start attacks. A solid, if untested, performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Jonas Adjetey - 6.0: A really nervy start for the defender. He picked up a deserved yellow card for a clumsy challenge in the first half. To his credit, he seemed to settle down as the game progressed. Still, he looked like a potential liability at times, walking a tightrope after that booking. He'll be relieved to have come through with a clean sheet.

Mohammed Salisu - 7.0: A very composed and authoritative performance at the heart of the defense. He read the game exceptionally well, making several key interceptions. Salisu was the calm head who organized the backline, especially in the frantic final minutes. His positioning was nearly flawless throughout the entire match.

Gideon Mensah - 6.5: A typically industrious performance from the full-back. He balanced his defensive duties with occasional forays forward. We noticed he was cautious not to get caught out of position, prioritizing the clean sheet. He didn't offer a huge attacking threat, but he was defensively solid and reliable.

Alexander Djiku - 8.0: The undisputed man of the match. He was a colossal presence in defense, winning headers and making crucial tackles. And of course, he scored the all-important winning goal with a striker's instinct. It was a captain's performance in all but name. His late substitution was a deserved chance to receive an ovation.

Midfielders

Caleb Yirenkyi - 6.5: Played a crucial, if understated, role in midfield. He was the engine room, breaking up play and keeping possession ticking over. He didn't do anything spectacular, but his work rate was immense. Yirenkyi provided the platform for the more creative players to try and make things happen. A disciplined game.

Thomas Partey - 6.0: This was a surprisingly subdued game from a player of his caliber. We expected him to dominate the midfield, but he struggled to impose himself. He looked a bit off the pace and picked up a late yellow card, possibly out of frustration. Not a bad performance, but we know he's capable of so much more.

Kwasi Sibo - 6.5: Much like Yirenkyi, Sibo put in a tremendous shift for the team. He was tenacious in the tackle and covered a lot of ground. His energy was vital in helping Ghana win the midfield battle, especially after they took the lead. A very effective, selfless performance.

Mohammed Kudus - 7.0: Ghana's most dangerous creative spark. Whenever he got on the ball, he looked like he could make something happen. He was a constant threat to the Mali defense with his dribbling and vision. From our perspective, his substitution felt a bit premature, as he was the one most likely to create a second goal.

Antoine Semenyo - 6.5: Full of energy and relentless running. He stretched the Mali defense and never gave them a moment's rest. While he didn't have a direct impact on the goal, his work rate created space for others. It was a tireless display before he was substituted in the second half.

Forwards

Matteo Di Norscia - 7.5: Led the line brilliantly as captain. He held up the ball well, battled with the defenders, and provided the crucial assist for Djiku's winner. His intelligence and link-up play were key to Ghana's attacking efforts. A proper striker's performance that made a decisive contribution to the result.

Substitutes

Kamaldeen Sulemana - N/A: Came on for Semenyo and offered fresh legs and pace on the wing.

Iñaki Williams - N/A: Replaced the goal-provider and gave Mali's tired defenders a different problem to think about.

Joseph Paintsil - N/A: Brought on to maintain attacking pressure and did a decent job.

Jerome Opoku - N/A: A late sub for the goalscorer Djiku to help see out the win.

Manager

O. Addo - 7.5: His game plan was executed to perfection. The team was organized, disciplined, and clinical when their chance arrived. He made the right substitutions at the right time to manage the game and secure the three points. A tactical masterclass that earned a vital win for his side.

Mali Player Ratings vs Ghana

Here are the Mali player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Djigui Diarra - 5.5: He couldn't do much about the goal, which was a close-range finish. Beyond that, he was rarely tested by Ghana's attack. His distribution was okay, but he wasn't called upon to be a hero. A quiet evening that ended in defeat for the Mali shot-stopper.

Defenders

Amadou Dante - 5.5: He had a tough time dealing with the movement of Ghana's attackers down his flank. He struggled to get forward and offer an attacking outlet. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted as Mali chased an equalizer. A difficult night for the defender.

Sikou Niakaté - 6.0: Mali's best defender on the night, though that isn't a high bar. He made a few important challenges and was the most composed member of the backline. However, he was part of a unit that ultimately conceded and couldn't keep a clean sheet. He battled hard but was on the losing side.

Mamadou Fofana - 5.5: He looked shaky at times alongside Niakaté. He struggled to cope with the physicality of Ghana's forwards. Fofana was often reactive rather than proactive in his defending. He never looked truly comfortable throughout the 90 minutes.

Salim Diakité - 5.0: A poor performance from the defender. He was caught out of position on a few occasions and offered very little going forward. Ghana seemed to target his side of the pitch. His substitution in the second half was an admission that things weren't working.

Midfielders

Lassana Coulibaly - 5.5: The game seemed to pass him by. He was largely anonymous in the midfield battle and couldn't get a foothold. He was substituted early in the second half as the manager looked for more creativity. A forgettable outing for the midfielder.

Mohamed Camara - 6.0: One of the few Mali players who showed some fight in the middle of the park. He tried to break up play and drive his team forward, but he was fighting a losing battle. He covered a lot of ground but lacked the quality around him to make a real difference.

Fodé Doucouré - 5.5: Similar to Coulibaly, he had minimal impact on the proceedings. He was unable to influence the game in any meaningful way. It was no surprise when he was one of the first players to be substituted after Ghana scored.

Kamory Doumbia - 6.5: Mali's brightest player by a considerable margin. From our perspective, everything positive they did seemed to go through him. He looked to create chances and was not afraid to take players on. It was a good individual performance in a poor team showing.

Aliou Dieng - 5.5: As the captain, we expected a lot more leadership and quality from him. He was quiet and ineffective, failing to inspire his team after they went behind. The midfield battle was lost, and the captain was unable to turn the tide for his side.

Forwards

Lassine Sinayoko - 5.0: A really tough and isolating night for the striker. He was completely starved of service and had to feed on scraps. He never had a clear sight of goal and was well-marshalled by Ghana's defenders. His substitution was inevitable as he made no impact.

Substitutes

Dorgeles Nene - N/A: Brought on to add some spark but couldn't change the game.

Gaoussou Diarra - N/A: An early sub who failed to make a significant impact.

Mustapha Sangaré - N/A: Came on for the isolated Sinayoko but fared no better.

Moussa Sylla - N/A: A late roll of the dice from the manager.

Ousmane Camara - N/A: Another late sub with little time to influence the result.

Manager

T. Saintfiet - 5.0: His team looked devoid of ideas in the final third. They were defensively solid until the goal, but offered very little attacking threat. His substitutions failed to change the momentum of the game. It was a disappointing tactical display that led to a deserved defeat.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Alexander Djiku