Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has made it clear that nothing short of victory will satisfy him when his side faces Ghana in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday night.
Ghana currently top Group I with 16 points after seven matches, holding a one-point lead over Comoros, three over Madagascar, and four ahead of Mali.
With three games left, Monday’s clash could prove pivotal in determining who advances.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Belgian trainer acknowledged the possibility of defeat but stressed that such an outcome would leave him deeply disappointed.
“To be honest, losing I will never see as a success. I will maybe be proud of my team, and I will give rewards and credit to the boys because they probably did everything that they could, but the opponent was stronger,” he said.
Saintfiet added that while football naturally involves both wins and losses, his ambition as coach is firmly fixed on guiding Mali to the World Cup.
“It's always possible in football. You win and you lose. But if we lose tomorrow, I will not be a happy man. I will not see it as a success.
"I will be very disappointed, even if my team would have done everything in their capacity to do. My ambition as a coach is to go to the World Cup. As a coach, I will only be happy with a win.”
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