Zambia head coach Moses Sichone was full of praise for his players on Monday afternoon after their 1-1 stalemate against Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The two teams faced off at the Stade Mohamed V in their opening Group A fixture, producing an entertaining contest in which Mali largely held the upper hand.
Mali dominated the first half and created several clear-cut chances but failed to make their superiority count, with El Bilal Touré missing a penalty that could have given them a deserved lead before the break.
Mali eventually broke the deadlock in the 61st minute after the restart and appeared on course to secure all three points. However, their hopes were dashed in added time when Patson Daka rose to head home an inviting cross, salvaging a dramatic draw for Zambia.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Sichone admitted that it was a tough match against Mali, and applauded his Zambia players for a good job done to secure a point from the contest.
“My players did the job against Mali. It was our opening match and it was not easy. We conceded a goal at an unexpected moment — a gift we gave away — and that is something we must correct. A match lasts 90 minutes and you should never give up. That is why I pushed my players right to the end,” Sichone said.
The Zambia coach continued, “We are in a very competitive group, and I congratulate Morocco on their win against Comoros. Our next opponents, Comoros, put in a solid performance. We will prepare well and continue to work. We have our strengths and players who are ready.”
After the draw against Mali, Zambia will now switch attention to their second match against Comoros on Friday, December 26.
