Saintfiet (Mali Coach): "We Qualified for AFCON Quarter-Finals Without a Win and Can Win the Title the Same Way"
04 January 2026at13:44
Mali national team coach, Tom Sentfiet, expressed his satisfaction after overcoming Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Round of 16 via a penalty shootout. He praised the performance of the Carthage Eagles and noted that luck played a role in this type of match.
Sentfiet stated in press remarks: "The red card affected us, and offensively we were better than Tunisia despite playing the match with ten men."
Tom Sentfiet added: "We qualified from the group stage without any wins, and we can win the Africa Cup of Nations in the same manner."
It is worth noting that the Malian national team will face Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals next Friday at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
Q&A
Why does Mali coach Tom Saintfiet believe they can win the AFCON title without a single group stage victory?
Coach Saintfiet believes Mali can win the AFCON title without a group stage victory, citing their current qualification path. They advanced past Tunisia in the Round of 16 via a penalty shootout.
What is Mali's next fixture in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-finals?
The Malian national team is scheduled to face Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. This crucial match will take place next Friday at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
