AFCON 2025 - Mali: Tom Saintfiet takes on FIFA after the draw against Zambia
Bemused by the outcome of their Group A game against Zambia which ended in a 1-1 draw, Mali's coach was outright in his post match presser. The Belgian coach accuses part of his team's lapses to FIFA's decision to allow European clubs retain players ahead of the AFCON 2025
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Tom Saintfiet is angry at FIFA. If he recognized the naivete of Mali who was equalized in the last minutes of their first match at AFCON 2025 against Zambia (1-1), the Belgian technician tackled FIFA when discussing his players' forfeits against Morocco due to injuries sustained during their last club matches that were played beyond December 8, upon authorization from the football world body.
"I am not happy, but I am not surprised,"
Saintfiet reacted to the result on Canal+Sport Afrique.
«We played well in the first half, dictated the tempo but we couldn’t score. In the second half we score and we told ourselves that after the 1-0, we will do everything for the 2-0 because we know that the goal difference can be decisive (in qualification). Morocco won 2-0 and if we won 2-0, a draw against Morocco would be enough to qualify, but we cannot be happy (with the result) and we have a lot of work in the coming days.”
Speaking about Friday’s match against Morocco, the Belgian admitted that Mali no longer has its destiny in its hands:
"We already have ideas on this match against Morocco but we will still discuss it internally. But it’s clear that we created a problem for us today because with a draw against Morocco, we only have two points. And if Zambia or Comoros win (their next match) it’s a big problem for us for the last match. We have a lot of work,"
admitted Tom Saintfiet.
Finally, he had bullets at FIFA which authorized the clubs to keep their players until December 15, causing last minute injuries:
" FIFA has decided that the players must play their last match six or seven days before a big tournament. Two of my players are injured during their last matches. Sikou Niakaté with Braga and Hamari Traoré with Paris FC. Thank you to FIFA for that. They are not available for a few weeks. If we stay in the tournament for a long time, they can play,"
he said.