Mali captain Yves Bissouma has set his sights on claiming the Eagles’ first victory of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they prepare to face hosts Morocco.
Mali opened their Group A campaign with a 1-1 draw against Zambia and will now take on Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder emphasized his focus on the match.
“What matters to me today is Mali. I am here and fully focused on tomorrow’s match. The rest doesn’t concern me,” Bissouma said.
“As captain, I try to bring a positive spirit to the group. Everyone can motivate the team in their own way,” he states.
“Now intelligence is more important than emotion. We created problems for ourselves in the first match. This is a long tournament, and we must be smart,” the Belgian coach explained.
Playing against Morocco on home soil, with over 60,000 supporters expected, presents a formidable challenge, but Bissouma stressed that respect will guide their ambition.
“We respect Morocco. We are not arrogant. But we want to win every match,” he said.
The clash is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 GMT.
