2025 U17 World Cup: Mali captain Thiemoko Berthe urges calm and focus after costly defeat to Austria

Mali captain Thiemoko Berthe has called for unity and determination among his teammates following their 2-1 defeat to Austria on Saturday, November 8, at the FIFA U17 World Cup.

The result leaves the Aiglonnets facing a must-win encounter in their final group match against Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on the game, Berthe admitted that the red card shown to one of Mali’s players in the 57th minute shifted the balance decisively in Austria’s favour.

The card penalized us a bit. Since then, it has unbalanced all our movements, he explained, suggesting that the numerical disadvantage disrupted the team’s rhythm and tactical shape.

Mali began the match brightly but struggled to maintain control after the dismissal, allowing Austria to capitalise and overturn the early momentum.

Despite the disappointment, Berthe’s tone remained optimistic as he looked ahead to the decisive clash against Saudi Arabia. Certainly, we lost a battle, but not the war. We will start preparing for the match against Saudi Arabia tonight, he said, emphasising the importance of mental resilience and focus.

The defeat marked a setback for Mali, who entered the tournament with strong ambitions and high expectations following a promising start.

Berthe’s leadership on and off the field has been pivotal for the team, and his post-match remarks reflected a determination to restore confidence before the group’s final round of fixtures.

The young captain’s words underline the belief that qualification remains within reach.

With one match left to play in Group E, Mali must secure victory on Tuesday, November 11, to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the knockout stage.

For Mali, the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia will not only be a test of skill but also of character.

The players will need to channel their frustration from the Austria defeat into motivation, showing the discipline and composure that defined their earlier performances in the competition.

As the team regroups, all eyes will be on Berthe to lead by example once again — rallying his side to produce a performance worthy of their reputation as one of Africa’s most talented youth teams.

Tags: Mali U17, Thiemoko Berthe, Austria U17, FIFA U17 World Cup, Saudi Arabia U17, Group E