Hannibal Mejbri Ahead of Mali Clash: "We Hope the Referee Doesn't End the Match in the 85th Minute"

Tunisian national team player Hannibal Mejbri affirmed that his team is approaching their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Round of 16 clash against Mali with high morale and intense focus. He noted that qualifying from the group stage was an important step, but stressed that the real tournament begins from this knockout phase.

Mejbri stated in a press interview: "We qualified from the group stage, but now we are facing the Round of 16. We know very well that if we lose, we will be eliminated from the tournament, so it can be said that the real competition begins from this stage." He added: "We will do everything in our power to qualify, God willing. After the draw in the previous match, we realize that we did not deliver an ideal performance, and we must perform better against Mali."

Mejbri addressed the strength of the Malian team, emphasizing the necessity of focus, discipline, and rigor throughout the match. "Football is a team game, and every player is required to contribute what is necessary for the team and exert their utmost for the group. Personally, I will maintain my focus, because helping the team as much as possible is very important, just as the focus of the group as a whole is key to success," he explained.

Regarding memories of previous encounters with Mali, Mejbri said: "We hope the referee doesn't end the match in the 85th minute," referring to the famous incident during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations when Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe controversially ended the Tunisia-Mali match before its official time, sparking widespread debate.

Mejbri concluded his statement by thanking the Tunisian fans: "We thank the Tunisian people for their continuous support and encouragement, and we call on everyone to remain united with us. It is true that the task is difficult, but with focus and unity, we can go far in this tournament."

It is worth noting that the match between the Tunisian national team and their Malian counterparts will take place tomorrow, Saturday, at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, starting at 8:00 PM (GMT+1).