Comoros head coach Stefano Cusin has reiterated that the tiny island nation have the potential to overcome Mali in Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Recall that Comoros are top of Group I despite being drawn against some of the best African football nations including Ghana and Mali.
In a chat with Cafonline, Cusin stated that the Islanders will stay positive and capitalise on ant loopholes from Mali.
“Mali is a team I know very well because I’ve already faced them when I coached South Sudan. It’s a very experienced team. It’s a nation that has a lot of players playing in the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the Premier League so it’s a very competitive team.
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“In fact, in the last AFCON, they reached the quarterfinals against Cote d’Ivoire. I think if Mali had beaten them, they would have been a candidate for the final” said Cusin.
“It’s a team full of quality with an experienced coach, a team that is very confident. 50th in the FIFA rankings—the FIFA ranking is still important because it serves as a benchmark. It’s as if Mali were to face Argentina or France—the difference is there. But, you know, in football, what matters is motivation.
“So, we need to study the opponent well, understand their qualities, understand what they want to do to score goals, and understand how to put them in danger. It won’t be easy, but in any case, I have confidence in our players, and I know they will give everything. So, we always need to stay positive. We must always believe that everything is possible”, concluded the coach.