Mali Coach Talks About the “Group of Death” in Africa Cup of Nations and Predicts Morocco for the Title
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, the head of the Mali national team, expressed his strong belief in his team’s potential to shine in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, despite being placed in a tough group that includes Morocco, Zambia, and Comoros.
In statements to the African Football Confederation, Saintfiet said, “Some have described our group as the group of death, but for me, it is an exciting group. Every match will be tough, and all the teams that qualified deserve respect.”
The Belgian coach added, “It’s always better to face strong teams, as it keeps us 100% focused and 500% fighting. Morocco is the top contender, and it’s great to face them, especially on their home ground. I would prefer our first match to be against them; it’s a clash everyone is looking forward to.”
Saintfiet warned of the strength of Zambia and Comoros, confirming that both teams are tough opponents: “Zambia has a remarkable coach, and despite their difficulties in World Cup qualifiers, they are a dangerous team. As for Comoros, they qualified at the expense of Tunisia and Gambia. I know their coach well, and our match against them won’t be easy.”
Regarding the state of the Mali national team before the tournament, Saintfiet stated, “The label of ‘underdog giants’ is accurate. The top favorites are Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, and Nigeria, but there are also strong teams like Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Tunisia, and South Africa.”
The Mali coach concluded his remarks by saying, “Our goal is clear: to be the team that can go far. We have the quality to compete with the giants, and we are not afraid of any opponent.”
