Mali coach Mohamed reveals WAFCON target against Ghana in must-win clash

Mali Women’s National Team coach Houssein Salloum Mohamed has revealed their desire is to make sure to repeat the feat they achieved in 2018 by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Les Aigles Dames kicked off their campaign with a slim 1-0 win against Tanzania, and ahead of their second Group C clash against the Black Queens, who lost their opener 2-0 against South Africa, Mohamed has already put his focus on qualifying from the group.

“I have been in charge of this team for eight years now. I understand the players and we continue to grow every other day. We want to achieve the same feat – reach the semifinals like we did in 2018 and why not go to the final? This is our objective. We want to do this for our fans, our families back home and across the world,” Mohamed told CAFOnline.

On what to anticipate in their fixture against Ghana, Mohamed said: “Winning our first game means that we have a mental edge going into the game against Ghana.

“We know our potential and quality within the squad. It is indeed a West African derby, but all the teams are physical, and we expect Ghana to be physical. We are prepared.”

This will be the fifth time the two teams are meeting at the WAFCON with Ghana walking away with three victories: 2-0 in 2022, 1-0 in 2006 and 3-1 in 2016. However, at home in 2018, the Black Queens lost to Mali for the first time ever in this competition and it is that result that Mohamed, who has coached this team since 2017 wants to replicate.

Mali and Ghana will face off at Stade Municipal de Berkane.