Mali Coach Saintfiet: 'Morocco are Strongest Contenders, Mali Prepared for Knockout Stage'

Tom Saintfiet, head coach of the Malian national team, confirmed that the atmosphere in Morocco has been excellent since the team's arrival to participate in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025. He praised the infrastructure, stadiums, hotels, and overall organization of the tournament. Saintfiet expressed great confidence in his players and technical staff after 15 months of working together, stating that the team is ready to compete with full seriousness.

The coach highlighted the difficulty of their group, which includes hosts Morocco, Zambia, and Comoros, describing Morocco as the strongest contender for the title. However, he emphasized his and his team's determination to qualify for the second round, focusing on each match and not considering any encounter easy.

Saintfiet told the CAF website: "We have phased objectives, we respect our opponents greatly, and any team in our group is capable of qualifying."

He added: "Comoros are a good team, Zambia are always strong, and Morocco are the biggest favorites. We must qualify for the second round and we need to be focused for every match. Every game in this tournament is difficult, but I am confident in my team, and we will reach the second round 100%."

He continued: "This tournament represents a celebration of African football in all its colors and passion. All 24 teams aspire to win the title, and there are strong teams like Senegal, Nigeria, and the Arab nations, but Morocco remains the biggest favorite thanks to home advantage, the fans, and excellent organization, in addition to the team's strong performance after the World Cup and their football development, including the U20 national team winning the World Cup."

Saintfiet concluded by saying: "We are here to stay for a long time, and we trust in the abilities of the Malian national team players to achieve our goal of qualifying for the second round, with full respect for all opponents, and preparing for every encounter as if it were a final."