But beneath the result, the performance painted a different picture. The Black Stars looked disjointed for long spells, struggling to build fluency or dictate the tempo.
And the reason was familiar; another sudden switch in system.
Just three days earlier against Chad, Otto Addo had drilled his team in a back four. Against Mali, he lined them up in a back three - a shape they hadn’t played since facing Madagascar six months ago.
That inconsistency has become the defining characteristic of his 28 games across two spells as Ghana coach.
Decent results have come in since the turn of the year, but the Black Stars still don’t know whether they are a back-four team or a back-three team.
Where It All Began
The roots of this dilemma trace back to March 2022. In his first match in charge against Nigeria in Kumasi, Otto’s instincts led him to set up in a 4-3-3 — the attacking system he grew up coaching through his time at Right to Dream and Borussia Dortmund.
But in the decisive second leg in Abuja, under waves of Nigerian pressure, he switched to a back three.
Ghana survived, defended deep with a back five, and qualified for the World Cup on away goals. It was pragmatic and effective, but it was also the beginning of the identity crisis.
The Numbers Since
In Ghana’s eight qualifiers for 2026 so far, Otto has used a 4-2-3-1 four times, a 3-4-3 three times, and a 4-3-3 once.
Significantly, the three occasions he turned to the 3-4-3 - away to Madagascar, away to Mali, and home to Mali - all ended in victories. That could tempt some to suggest the back three is his most effective tool.
But effectiveness on the day is not the same as long-term identity. These are qualifiers, yes, but they are also auditions for the World Cup itself.
National team coaches don’t get months on the training ground; every international break is precious.
Constantly flipping between a back three and a back four means players never settle into one rhythm. The two systems demand completely different patterns, i.e. how defenders build play, how midfielders press, how full-backs or wing-backs position themselves. Without continuity, cohesion suffers.
The Risk of Improvisation
We saw the dangers in Qatar 2022. Ghana played pre-tournament friendlies with a back four, only to surprise everyone by starting with a back five against Portugal.
The element of surprise is one thing, but at this level, players need muscle memory to get a clear understanding of their roles. Surprise doesn’t win tournaments; chemistry does.
Right now, the 3-4-3 often feels like an afterthought. Players are shoehorned into positions because they weren’t selected with that system in mind.
The issue with the 3-4-3 is that it requires the two wingers to play on the inside, but the majority of the country’s attacking talents shine best when played wide in isolated situations, so they can beat their man.
And while results against Mali and Madagascar show it can work, one-off victories shouldn’t mask the bigger issue, and that is Ghana's lack of a consistent identity.
Otto’s Next Big Call
To be clear, Otto Addo hasn’t done too badly in 2025. He steadied a wobbling side, masterminded World Cup qualification in 2022, and now has Ghana in a strong position to reach the 2026 edition despite missing out on the AFCON in Morocco. But real progress demands more than qualification; it demands a philosophy.
If he believes the back three is Ghana’s best future, he must commit to it. Call up wing-backs with real attacking thrust, centre-backs comfortable stepping into midfield, and midfielders who thrive in that double pivot. Drill them, play them, and live with their growing pains.
If he believes in the back four, then consistency in that system is the key, as the chopping and changing must end.
As things stand, Ghana are caught between two worlds; pragmatic enough to win on the day, but too unsettled to build an identity. The Black Stars need clarity, not constant tinkering.
Addo has got results in the World Cup qualifiers. What he doesn’t yet have is a system which is understandable due to his lack of experience. And that is Ghana’s biggest risk.
If the Black Stars keep switching between a back three and a back four, they will probably qualify for the World Cup, but they will arrive in North America as a team still searching for its true self.
If Otto makes the call now, sticks with one identity, and builds around it, Ghana will not just qualify. They’ll arrive prepared, drilled, and with a real threat.
The clock is ticking. The dilemma of the back three or back four can no longer be postponed. For Otto Addo and the Black Stars, it’s time to decide and to finally mean it.
The Black Star Watch is a compelling weekly column written by Owuraku Ampofo, a seasoned sports journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Ghanaian players. This column aims to uncover patterns, address pressing questions, and illuminate trending topics surrounding Ghanaian footballers.
