"Football-mad Mali may well have a strong case to be Africa's top footballing country never to have won the Africa Cup of Nations in the tournament's 69-year history, but head coach Tom Saintfiet believes that his experiences with the Gambia can help the Eagles end their wait for AFCON gold. The West African heavyweights progressed from Group A behind hosts Morocco, taking three points from the opening round to set up a Last 16 showdown with Tunisia in Casablanca on Saturday."
"Mali are a real football-loving nation with a long history. In 1972 they were second, they've been semi-finalists five more times, the last two times in 2012 and 2013, and they're always qualifying for the AFCON. There's a lot of ambition, with good players at the highest level. Mali's a country where people love football."
"While they've never clinched the continent's grandest senior prize, Mali are a genuine powerhouse at youth level, both continentally and internationally, where they have reached the semifinals of the U-17 or U-20 World Cup on five occasions, and twice been African champions at the U-17 Nations Cup."
Mali has a deep football culture and a long history of AFCON near-misses, including a runners-up finish in 1972 and multiple semifinal appearances. The team advanced from Group A behind hosts Morocco and earned three points to reach a Last 16 tie with Tunisia in Casablanca. Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet expects his experience with the Gambia to help Mali pursue its first AFCON title. Mali excels at youth levels, reaching several U-17 and U-20 World Cup semifinals, winning the U-17 Nations Cup twice, and finishing third at the U-23 AFCON, evidencing a strong pipeline of talent and ambition.
Read at ESPN.com
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