Quart de finale CAN 2026 : « Le Sénégal est le favori, mais nous n’avons pas peur », prévient Tom Saintfiet
On the eve of the explosive quarter-final between Mali and Senegal, the Eagles' coach, Tom Saintfiet, and his midfielder, Lassana Koulibaly, spoke at a press conference. Between respect for their opponents and tactical certainty, the Malian camp displayed a clear determination: to upset the continental hierarchy.
For Tom Saintfiet, Friday's match looks like a major challenge against what he considers to be the current benchmark on the continent.
“Tomorrow, we will face the best team at the moment: Senegal. They qualified with great ease, scoring many goals. In 2025, they proved their international stature by beating England and holding their own against Ireland. They are a stable team, driven by world-class individual players,” said the Belgian coach.
The Eagles' coach particularly emphasized the verticality of the Lions of Teranga's play: "They score easily and punish immediately as soon as they find space. They are extremely dangerous in transition."
Mali is banking on its freshness and resilience
Despite being considered the overwhelming favorites by Aliou Cissé's players, Mali has no intention of simply making up the numbers. "We also have a great team. We're undefeated in this AFCON after holding our own against powerhouses like Tunisia and Morocco. The squad has recovered well, everyone is fresh and ready," assures Tom Saintfiet.
The coach expects a high-intensity duel: "It will be a real battle. We respect Senegal, but we have no fear. I have total confidence in my players to pull off an upset, God willing."
Lassana Koulibaly: "Over 90 minutes, anything is possible"
Present alongside his coach, midfielder Lassana Koulibaly echoed this sentiment, predicting a balanced match despite the prestige of the opponent. "Senegal has one of the best squads in Africa; I know their players well, having shared a locker room with some of them. But we, too, are full of confidence," he stated.
The Malian player is counting on the Eagles' collective organization to counter Senegal's power: "Since the start of the tournament, we have shown solidity. We know there are still adjustments to be made, but in a single 90-minute match, anything is possible. We remain calm and focused on our game plan."
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