AFCON 2015 Qualifiers: Mali Left Reeling After Home Defeat to Ethiopia
By BBC Sport | Football – Africa
Mali’s hopes of securing a spot in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations took a hit following a shock 3-2 home defeat to Ethiopia in Bamako on Matchday 4 of the qualifiers.
The result stunned fans and pundits alike, particularly as the Eagles had beaten Ethiopia away earlier in the campaign. Despite the loss, Mali remain second in Group B with six points, behind already-qualified Algeria.
Head coach Henri Kasperczak admitted the defeat was a setback but maintained that qualification was still within reach.
“With six points and second place behind Algeria, I sincerely believe nothing is lost,” he told the CAF website. “After this defeat, we’re in difficulty, but not in danger. There are no more calculations to be made — we must get a good result in Malawi.”
The Franco-Polish manager was candid in his assessment of the performance, pointing to missed opportunities and lapses in defence as key factors behind the loss.
“It’s not ideal to lose at home after winning away. No matter how much effort we put in right now, we haven’t had much success. There were also defensive mistakes. We didn’t behave like favourites,” Kasperczak said.
With just two matches remaining in the group, Mali’s next challenge will come in the form of an away fixture against Malawi on 15 November in Blantyre. The Eagles coach warned of a difficult encounter ahead.
“Malawi is a team that plays good football, always well-organized in its structure. It’s going to be a complicated match, as it always is there,” he added. “But we’re going to Blantyre to bring back the three points — or at the very least, a draw. Nothing else.”
Kasperczak stressed that qualification is still in Mali’s hands and called on his players to rise to the occasion in the decisive final stretch.
“The players are fully aware of what’s at stake in the next two matches. We still control our destiny — it’s up to us to take advantage of it,” he concluded.
Mali’s final matches will now determine whether the Eagles can secure their ticket to the 2015 tournament in Morocco, with their fate hanging in the balance.
