Mali coach Baolara Alou Diallo has expressed his team’s desire to win the Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations trophy as they kick off their campaign in Morocco on Sunday.
Mali will face Gabon in the second Group B match in the Moroccan town of Tangier on Sunday. Speaking ahead of the game, Alou Diallo made it clear that his team is hungry and determined to reach far in the competition with the primary target of being crowned champions.
“We are here to participate and be competitive with very clear objectives. This is a complicated competition and the opening matches are always very crucial,” Alou Diallo said as quoted by CafOnline, adding: “We have a highly ambitious and motivated team who want to win this competition.”
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Diallo said he will bank on the experience coming from players featuring for top sides in Europe by stating: “The players know what we expect of them and our first objective will be to win the opening match against Gabon on Sunday. My players are ready and in high spirits with a winning mindset.”
On his part, Mali striker Fode Doucoune, who plays for Red Star in France maintained their focus is qualifying for the Olympic Games by saying: “We are confident of our abilities and must make sure we play our cards the right way starting with Gabon.”