2015 AFCON – Guinea Captain Ibrahima Traoré Confident Ahead of Decisive Mali Clash
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Guinea as they prepare to face Mali in a do-or-die clash on Wednesday evening in Group D of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Both teams are still in the running for a quarter-final berth, with all four group members level on two points after two matches.
Guinea captain Ibrahima Traoré is fully aware of the challenge ahead but remains confident in his side’s ability to qualify. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder acknowledged Mali’s strength and experience:
“Mali is a good team that always qualifies for the Africa Cup of Nations. They often get good results in the last four. We know that they don’t necessarily have as much pressure as we do.”
Traoré emphasized the familiarity between the two West African sides, which adds to the difficulty:
“It will be a very difficult match, surely the most difficult of the three because it is a team that knows us really well.”
Despite the pressure and the stakes, Traoré remained optimistic:
“Now we are one step away from qualification, we forget everything to concentrate and play a great match to qualify (…) I am still sure that we will qualify.”
A draw in Mongomo might not be enough depending on the outcome of Cameroon vs. Ivory Coast, so both Guinea and Mali are expected to go all out in what could be one of the most intense fixtures of the group stage.
