Tom Saintfiet, head coach of Mali’s National Men’s Football Team, says it is shocking that Ghana won’t compete at the 2025 AFCON despite having several quality players.
Unlike Saintfiet’s Mali, Ghana won’t compete in this year’s AFCON which takes place in Morocco after the Black Stars failied to qualify to the continental championship for the first time since 2004.
Speaking ahead of Mali’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 9 at 19:00 GMT, Saintfiet stated that he isn’t one to complain about the state of pitches and talked about his shock over Ghana’s absence in the upcoming tournament
“It will be a very tough task. I have huge respect for the Ghanaian team. I believe really that they have everything and it’s shocking that they won’t play AFCON. A country like Ghana must become African champion in the near future with all this quality” Saintfiet.
Under Otto Addo, Ghana drew three games and lost three games to the likes of Niger and Sudan to fail to qualify to this year’s AFCON.
Mali beat Comoros 3-0 while Ghana drew 1-1 against Chad in disappointing fashion in the lead up to Monday’s contest
