Ghana edged Mali 1-0 in a tightly contested CAF World Cup qualifier on September 9, 2025, securing a precious home victory. The narrow win at a packed stadium keeps Ghana at the forefront of their qualification group in a match that lived up to its billing as a West African derby. The only goal of the game came from a penalty in the second half, calmly converted by Ghana's captain after a handball was spotted by the referee following a VAR check. Mali pushed hard for an equalizer and came close on several occasions, hitting the post in the dying minutes, but Ghana's defense held firm under intense pressure. The three points are vital for Ghana in a group where every match is fiercely competitive, while Mali will rue missed chances in a game they could have drawn or even won. Ghana's manager expressed relief and pride in his team's resilience, while the Mali coach was left frustrated by the penalty decision and his team's lack of luck in front of goal. The starting XIs featured both teams' European-based stars in a high-intensity clash.