Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has made it clear his team is fiercely determined as they prepare to face hosts Morocco in a pivotal Group A showdown at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, even as both sides arrive with very different opening results.

After being held to a draw by Zambia, Mali now faces mounting pressure to claim crucial points in Rabat. Meanwhile, Morocco’s confident win over Comoros has only strengthened their reputation as tournament favourites.

Speaking before the encounter at the Stade Moulay Abdellah, Saintfiet stressed that respect for the hosts would not limit Mali’s ambition.

“We respect Morocco. We are not arrogant, but we want to win every match,” the Belgian coach said.

With Morocco poised to rally their home crowd, Mali are bracing for a tough challenge as they fight to keep their top-two hopes alive. Saintfiet insists his players must combine sharp thinking with discipline, learning from the hard-fought draw against Zambia.

This clash could prove decisive in shaping Group A, with both teams knowing that a strong result here might propel them into a commanding position before the final round.