DR ‹ › Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet said on Thursday in Rabat that his team must target victory against Morocco, stressing that they «cannot afford any mistakes» if they are to stay in contention for a place in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. «Morocco are the logical favorites to win this AFCON. They are the best team in Africa and one of the best in the world», Saintfiet said at the pre-match press conference. Reflecting on Mali's opening 1–1 draw with Zambia, the Belgian coach admitted his disappointment. «We were disappointed after our first match, which ended in a draw against Zambia. I was frustrated by the result», he said. Saintfiet also highlighted Morocco's recent footballing achievements. «Morocco won the U20 World Cup, the Arab Nations Cup, and the African Nations Championship. It is a football nation. As for us, we are motivated to deliver a strong performance tomorrow», he added. According to the Mali coach, the Malian public has always stood behind the Eagles, and his team carries a responsibility to represent their country well. «The Malian supporters have always backed the Eagles. Our responsibility is to be good ambassadors of Malian football», he said, while describing the hosting conditions in Morocco as «excellent». For his part, Mali captain Yves Bissouma, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, said the clash with Morocco is «very important». «Against the host nation, we have to approach the match with seriousness and discipline. We hope to win. Morocco have very good players and play attractive football», Bissouma said. «We always fight to win. We are competitors. We will take things step by step. Our full focus is on the match against Morocco», he concluded.
