Mali Coach Tom Saintfiet: “Our Goal is to Play Seven Matches at AFCON 2025″
Mali’s head coach, Tom Saintfiet, is aiming for a strong performance at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with a clear goal of reaching at least the semi-finals.
After the group stage draw in Rabat, the Belgian coach expressed contentment with Mali’s placement in Group A, where they will face hosts Morocco, Zambia, and Comoros.
While recognizing the tough road ahead, Saintfiet remains confident that Mali can rise to the challenge and compete at the top level.
This will be Mali’s 14th AFCON appearance, and they’ve been drawn into a group with Morocco, who made history by becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022, as well as Zambia, the 2012 champions, and Comoros, an emerging force in African football.
Despite the tough competition, Saintfiet is hopeful for his team’s chances.
“I believe we can be pleased with the draw. Being in a group with Morocco, Comoros, and Zambia gives us opportunities,” he stated.
Facing Morocco, the host nation, will undoubtedly be a formidable challenge, but for the former Gambia coach, it is also a thrilling opportunity.
“Playing Morocco in Morocco is a huge occasion. It’s a match every player and coach dreams of. It will be very competitive, and we are excited about it,” he added.
While confident, Saintfiet remains cautious, recognizing 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 tournaments with teams like Madagascar, Gambia, Comoros, Mauritania, and Namibia proving their quality,” he explained.
For Mali, who have yet to win an AFCON title, the aim is clear: to reach the final for the first time since 1972.
Saintfiet made his goals explicit—Mali is not just aiming to participate; they are focused on a deep tournament run.
“Our objective is to stay in the competition until the end, which means playing seven matches and reaching at least the semi-finals,” he asserted.
He is also mindful of the tough competition, pointing to African powerhouses like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, along with other strong teams such as Burkina Faso, DR Congo, and South Africa.
“There are at least 10 to 12 teams that believe they can make it to the final. We know Morocco are the favorites, but we also have teams like Algeria, Senegal, and Nigeria, who are very strong,” he noted.
Saintfiet emphasized that proper preparation will be key to Mali’s success, 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.
Having previously led Gambia to a historic quarter-final finish at AFCON 2021, Saintfiet now faces the challenge of guiding Mali to a new milestone. The Eagles have reached the semi-finals four times (2002, 2004, 2012, and 2013) but are still in pursuit of their first-ever AFCON title.
With a determined coach and a strong squad, Mali will be looking to make history in Morocco.
