Malian national team coach Tom Saintfiet has sent a clear message to hosts Morocco ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations clash, promising an attacking approach despite a past win built on defense.
The two sides meet on Thursday in their second Group A match. The buildup has been marked by Saintfiet’s frank reminder of his only other meeting with the Atlas Lions. In 2019, as coach of The Gambia, he masterminded a 1-0 victory with a tightly organized defensive performance, limiting his team to just 21% possession.
“I want to maintain my 100% record against them,” Saintfiet stated, acknowledging that past success.
However, the Belgian tactician was quick to dismiss any notion of repeating that specific strategy with his current Mali squad. He drew a sharp contrast between the teams at his disposal.
“Will we park the bus against Morocco? I’ve played Morocco only once, back in 2019. We won 1-0 by parking the bus,” he said. “But in Mali, I don’t have a ‘bus’. I want to play 100% attacking football because we have great players.”
The comment signals Saintfiet’s intention to leverage the offensive talent in the Malian team, known for its dynamic and physically powerful players. This approach marks a shift from the defensive blueprint he used successfully five years ago.
The match carries high stakes for both nations. Mali opened their AFCON campaign with a 1-1 draw against Zambia, making a positive result against the tournament hosts important for their knockout stage hopes. Morocco, one of the pre-competition favorites, will be looking to secure a win in front of their home supporters after starting with a victory over Comoros
Saintfiet’s words set the stage for a fascinating tactical battle, a coach with a proven, if defensive, formula against Morocco now choosing to challenge the host’s quality with an assertive game plan. Whether Mali’s “great players” can overcome the Moroccan threat will be tested tomorrow.