
Badou Zaki Shortlisted to Lead Mali National Team
The Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) has announced that Moroccan coach Badou Zaki, currently managing the Niger national team, is on the final shortlist of candidates to take charge of the senior Mali national team. This follows a rigorous selection process that initially included 28 applications.
In an official statement, the federation explained that a special committee reviewed the applications based on strict technical criteria. Key requirements included holding a "CAF Pro" or "UEFA Pro" coaching license, along with international experience and a proposed sports project.
Only five coaches were selected to proceed in the race. Badou Zaki leads the list, alongside Congolese Jean-Florent Ikwange Ibenge, Malian Mohamed Magassouba, and Portuguese coaches António Conceição Oliveira and António da Silva.
The five shortlisted coaches will undergo in-depth interviews with the technical committee in the coming days. The final report will then be submitted to FEMAFOOT's Executive Committee on May 24 to finalize the identity of the new coach for the "Eagles of Mali."