Mali’s coach vows no parking against Morocco as AFCON stakes rise

Ahead of the clash

Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet dismissed any hint of fear in his squad ahead of Friday's Africa Cup of Nations group clash with hosts Morocco.

Morocco opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Comoros, while Mali were held to a 1-1 draw by Zambia.

Saintfiet's stance on the foe

The Mali boss told the press, "No fear on our side, even though I rate Morocco as the current favourite to win the title; they are the best in Africa right now."

"I haven't been scared of the Moroccan team, and I've faced them before and beaten them," he added.

Saintfiet also said facing the hosts carries big challenges that motivate him a lot.

"We won't park the bus as some expect after drawing with Zambia; at least a draw against Morocco would be acceptable," he explained.

"We have a clear bet: deliver a big performance against the title favorite; it will be a useful test to stand up to a strong side backed by its fans, but we are confident of a positive result."

Match context: AFCON, with Morocco versus Mali scheduled for December 26, 2025 at 21:00 local time.

Punchlines: Sniper-style humor to follow: two quick jabs to end on a lighter note.

Punchline 1: If football is chess, Mali just brought a knight to block the bus parking lot.

Punchline 2: They may not park, but the jokes will park themselves in the stands.