Mali head coach, Tom Saintfiet has set his sights on playing in the semifinals at the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The West African country has been housed in Group A alongside Morocco, Zambia and Comoros.
While acknowledging the challenge ahead, Saintfiet remains confident that the Eagles can compete at the highest level.
“I think we can be happy with the draw. Being in a group with Morocco, Comoros, and Zambia gives us opportunities,” the Belgian trainer said.
Playing against the host nation will be a major challenge, but for the former Gambia coach, it is also an exciting prospect.
“Facing Morocco in Morocco is a big occasion. Every player and coach dreams of playing such a match. It will be very competitive, and we are looking forward to it,” he added.
While Saintfiet exudes confidence, he remains cautious, acknowledging the unpredictability of African football.
“All the teams at this AFCON are strong. There are no easy matches in African football anymore. We’ve seen surprises in recent editions, with teams like Madagascar, Gambia, Comoros, Mauritania, and Namibia proving their worth,” he explained.
For Mali, who have yet to win an AFCON title, the goal is clear: break into the final for the first time since 1972.
Saintfiet made his ambitions clear—Mali is not just looking to participate; they are aiming for a deep run in the tournament.
“We want to stay in this tournament until the end. That means playing seven matches, which means reaching at least the semi-finals,” he stated.
He is also aware of the intense competition, highlighting the presence of African heavyweights such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, along with other strong teams like Burkina Faso, DR Congo, and South Africa.
“There are at least 10 to 12 teams that believe they can reach the final. We know Morocco are the favourites, but we also have teams like Algeria, Senegal, and Nigeria who are very strong,” he noted.
Saintfiet stressed that proper preparation will be crucial for Mali’s chances, calling for commitment from players, the coaching staff, the football federation, and the government.
“The players must stay focused, and they must be well-prepared by us as coaches, the federation, and the government to ensure we are ready for these matches,” he concluded.
Saintfiet, who led Gambia to a historic quarter-final finish at AFCON 2021, is now tasked with guiding Mali to a new milestone. The Eagles have reached the semi-finals four times (2002, 2004, 2012, and 2013) but are still chasing their first-ever AFCON trophy.
