Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has thrown his weight behind the Black Stars, urging them to bounce back from their frustrating 1-1 draw with Chad as they prepare to face Mali in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Monday, September 8, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Black Stars were on the verge of sealing an away victory in N’Djamena last Thursday, only for Ecua Celestin to snatch a late equalizer for Chad after Jordan Ayew had given Ghana a first-half lead.

The result keeps Ghana at the summit of Group I with 16 points but leaves their qualification hopes under pressure, with Madagascar (13 points), Mali (12) and Comoros (12) still firmly in the race.

Adams visited the team’s camp over the weekend to motivate the players, stressing the need for a strong response in front of home fans.

“We don’t have any player better than you. Of course, we’re all disappointed by the outcome of the match against Chad,” he told the players.

“We’re not happy that things went the way they did, but we can always bounce back with a positive response against Mali.”

Ghana will wrap up their World Cup qualification campaign with games against the Central African Republic and Comoros in October.