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The Black Stars of Ghana were humbled by the Eagles of Mali in Coach Charles Akonnor’s first game in charge of the team in an international friendly played in Antalya-Turkey

Mali opened the game with an early well worked goal in the 2nd minute after Cheick Doucouré’ through pass found Hamari Traore on the left frank, who outrun his Ghanaian marker Gideon Mensah to slot a grounder pass Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.

Ghana came close to getting the equalizer in the 10th minute when Andre Ayew capitalized on a blunder by Malian Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, but a connecting pass from Jordan Ayew landed in rhe waiting hands of the Goalkeeper.

The Black Stars came close again in the 25th minute when Bernard Mensah’s inswing pass found Jordan Ayew on the right, but the Crystal Palace man shot wide in the goal area.

The Black Stars made some slight changes in their system with Thomas Partey falling deep into midfield to provide some passes upfront to give Jordan opportunity at goal, but the Malians kept Amadou Haidara in the midfield to prevent the Ghanaians from making any incursions into their goal area.

Ghana Coach Akonnor effected his first substitution in the 40th minute with Eugene Ansah making way for Youngster Kamal Deen.

The Malians took control of the game again before the Half time break, having maintained their lead.

Back from the break and the Malians will continue from where they ended, a streak of passes sent a long pass down the flanks to Hamari Traore whose cross found the head of Bilal Touré straight into the net for the second goal in the 49th minute

Ghana made a second substitution with Emmanuel Lomotey coming on for Bernard Mensah to stabilize the midfield, and to make way for Thomas Partey to free himself.

Coach Akonnor made some more substitutions with Caleb Ekuban coming on for Gideon Mensah. The Changes did not affect play as the Malians kept their hold on the game having also effected some substitutions with Adama Traore making way for Kalifa Coulibaly in the 74th minute

The flamboyant Malians continued their dominance on the game with Amadou Haidara conteolling and dictating the pace in midfield.

Haidara ‘stole’ the Ghanaian defense in the 75th minute to score after his initial shot has hit the side post.

Rhe Maluans dominated the rest of play to prove too strong fie the Ghanaians to end the game on a high flying Eagle note

©442gh

Ghana takes on Mali in Turkey, and we bring you the live coverage of the international friendly

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The senior national team of Ghana will be battling out with the Eagles of Mali in an international friendly on Friday evening (today).

Coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor is starting his journey as the head coach of the Black Stars with a crunchy encounter against Mali at at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey. The match will serve as preparatory game for Head Coach C.K Akonnor and his technical team who have yet to taste competitive football since their appointment in January this year. Mali have always proved a difficult customer for Ghana in all competitions at different levels of football. On two occasions, they beat the Black Stars to clinch Bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2013 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and South Africa respectively. 

Kickofftime: 5:00 PM 

TVChannels: GTV, TV3, ETV, NewDay TV, Metro TV, CITI TV and GTV Sports + 

The match will also been streamed live on the Facebook.

©kickgh

Ghana coach Charles Akonnor has named a strong line-up to face Mali on Friday with debutantes Alexander Djiku, Eugene Ansah and Tarique Fosu all in the starting team, Ghanasoccernet.com can reveal.

But the squad is dominated by players who have a lot of experience in the team with Andre Ayew leading the team as the substative captain for the Black Stars.

New Arsenal signing Thomas Partey will partner striker Jordan Ayew with the latter who is versatile playing as the ghost striker in the match in the Turkish city of Antalya.

This is the firepowwer coach Charles Akonnor is unleashing on the Malians as he wants to start his job as the manager of the senior national team in flying colours.

In-form Switzerland based goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi get the chance to prove his worth as he has long been overlooked by the previous handlers even though he has been in great form for St Gallen.

He will be protected in central defence by Nicholas Opoku and Kasim Nuhu who have both been excellent for their clubs since the league started in Europe this season.

On the right side of defence impressive youngster Gideon Mensah retains his place while Fosu walks straight into the starting team at the left back after gaining his first Black Stars call-up.

Another debutant Alexander Djiku will get to boss the central midfield where he will be partnered by Partey who will have the responsility of feeding Jordan Ayew with passes.

Bernard Mensah of Turkish giants Besiktas will play from the right wnng with Israel-based Eugene Ansah playing from the left side of the midfield.

Andre Ayew will play behind his brother striker Jordan Ayew as the Black Stars deploy the strategy to defeat the tough West African side.

Ghana are using the friendly to prepare for the re-start of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Starting line-up: Lawrence Ati Zigi, Gideon Mensah, Tariqe Fosu, Nicholas Opoku, Kasim Nuhu, Alexander Djiku, Bernard Mensah, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew and Eugene Ansah.

©Ghana soccernet