Bamako, Mali – (African Boulevard News) – Mali’s head coach Soumaila Coulibaly has admitted that his team is still hurting from their semi-final loss to Morocco at the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, Coulibaly has also said that his squad is determined to win the bronze medal against Senegal, calling it a “consolation prize.”
“We came here to win the tournament, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible. We lost against Morocco and now we have to play for the third place. It’s tough for the players, but we need to bounce back. Winning the bronze medal will be a consolation for us,” said Coulibaly.
Mali’s journey to the third-place playoff has been a roller coaster of emotions. The team started the tournament strong, winning their opening match against Equatorial Guinea 2-0. Their second match against Tunisia was a humbling experience as they lost 3-0. However, the team bounced back, defeating Angola 1-0 in their final group game to qualify for the knockout stages.
In the quarterfinals, Mali faced South Africa in a closely contested match that saw them emerge victorious on penalties. Their luck, however, ran out in the semi-finals when they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Morocco.
Despite the loss, Coulibaly insists that his team is motivated for the bronze medal match and is hoping to give the fans something to cheer about.
“Our goal is to win the third place and finish the tournament on a high note. Our fans back home have been supporting us throughout the tournament, and we want to make them proud. We have the quality to beat Senegal, and that’s what we are focused on now,” said Coulibaly.
The bronze medal match between Mali and Senegal promises to be an exciting encounter. Both teams have shown their quality throughout the tournament, and they will be determined to end on a high note.
The TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations 2023 has been a great showcase of the talent on the continent, with 12 teams vying for the title. The tournament has seen some impressive performances, and the fans have been treated to some exciting football.
In the end, only one team will emerge as champions, but for Mali, winning the bronze medal will be a worthy consolation prize.
