Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet says his side will approach the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana with confidence, insisting they are capable of pulling off a surprise at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Belgian tactician dismissed suggestions that the quality of the pitch could affect his team’s performance, stressing that such excuses do not influence results.
“I’m not the kind of coach who complains about pitches. Pitches have no influence on the game,” Saintfiet said.
With Ghana expected to draw a crowd of about 40,000 fans for the encounter, the Mali coach believes his side can rise to the occasion.
“We are here to try and make a miracle come through. We are here to play with confidence and try to surprise the 40,000 people in the stadium,” he added.
Mali sit fourth in Group I with 12 points, four behind leaders Ghana, who remain unbeaten in their last five matches in the qualifiers. Kickoff is scheduled for 19:00 GMT on Monday.
