Ghana assistant coach Maxwell Konadu says they have been handed a favourable draw for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars face two-time winners DR Congo, Mali and Niger in Group B at their Port Elizabeth.
Ghana are not new to Mali after both sides met twice at the last edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
The four-time champions beat the Eagles 2-0 in their final Group D match and lost by the same scoreline in the third-place play-off match.
“The pairing is well balanced draw and we are happy with that,” Konadu said.
“Remember African football has gotten to a certain height and you don’t have to underrate any country.
“My worry is DR Congo is being coached by a former Black Stars coach who knows our team very very well.
“He (Claude Le Roy) knows the quality in our side and so he will be well prepared. We just have to prepare and make sure we are going all out against the team.”
Ghana’s opener is against DR Congo on 20 January before matches against Mali and Niger.