Former Black Stars defender Stephen Baidoo is calling for caution on the part of the senior national men’s soccer team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mali on Thursday, June 6.
He says the team does not have to go for a win at all cost but to approach the game with caution.
For him, it is better to come home with a draw than a loss. Therefore, he is advocating that the team plays with utmost caution in the game.
Baidoo, who played for the Black Stars in the late 1990s through the early 2000s, was speaking on Onua FM‘s Onua Sports Center
Ghana will take on the Eagles in a crucial Group I tie at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako.
While Mali are 2nd in the group after a draw and a win in the qualifiers so far, the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists have won one and lost one, to Comoros Islands.
2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Comoros beat Black Stars 1-0 to top Group I
Speaking on the strategy the team can adopt going into Thursday’s encounter, Baidoo conceded that it is not going to be easy for the Black Stars.
“Now, Mali seem to be ahead of Ghana in terms of performance because they put in place good plans but that does not also mean they are way above us.
“This is because when you look closely at our team, we’ve also got players who are robust, from defence to midfield to attack. Even in the attack most play in England, which is a tough league.”
He, therefore, insisted that “we can’t write ourselves off”.
“But the only approach is that we have to protect what we have before going all out. Normally, they say the best way to defend is to attack. No, I don’t believe in that. The best way to defend is to defend.
“So, we have to play with caution.”
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00pm.
