Aliou Dieng ready to sacrifice all to get Mali's first AFCON title

Mali star, Aliou Dieng has stated that the national team’s ultimate goal at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is to win the country’s first-ever continental title and he is ready to give his all for that.

Speaking in a recent interview with CAFOnline.com, he explained that the absence of a star on Mali’s jersey provides extra motivation to the team. Per Dieng the players will give their all, and he is ready to sacrifice personal glory for the chance to lift the trophy.

Voicing the level of optimism and belief in achieving the historic feat, Dieng expressed his satisfaction after arriving in Morocco for the tournament.

The Al Ahly midfielder stressed on the fact that African football does not recognize preconceptions or easy calculations -  highlighting that Mali’s players are fully aware of the challenges ahead and prepared to give everything in defense of the national colors.

CAFOnline.com: Welcome! How was your arrival in Morocco ahead of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025?

Aliou Dieng: Thank God, we arrived safely. We have already settled into the competition atmosphere, and everything starts now. We will begin the tournament the right way, and we know exactly what to expect. We will give our best, God willing.

CAFOnline.com: You face tough group-stage matches against Morocco, Burkina Faso, and Zambia. How do you assess your chances of progressing?

Aliou Dieng: There is no easy match in Africa, nor is there a difficult one. All matches are similar. There were games where we expected much better performances, but they were still tough as I said. That is football, and African football is like that by nature. We are here and ready. We know it won’t be easy, but we will give everything for our country, God willing.

CAFOnline.com: What are your objectives in this tournament?

Aliou Dieng: For Mali, the goal is clear. We have never won a continental title, so this year we definitely want to earn the star. Nothing is guaranteed in advance, but we will do everything we can and double our efforts for this star, God willing.

CAFOnline.com: Do you have personal goals in this tournament?

Aliou Dieng: My personal goal is the same as the team’s goal. Our collective aim is the star and winning the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations. If I have to sacrifice myself for the trophy, why not? The objective is both personal and collective — it is to lift the cup.

CAFOnline.com: What do you promise Malian fans before the start of AFCON 2025?

Aliou Dieng: Malian fans expect a lot from us. God willing, this year we will not disappoint them. They are with us day and night, and we will do everything to make them happy, God willing.

CAFOnline.com: Any final words?

Aliou Dieng: Thank you, thank you to the Malian fans here in Morocco. We know they will come in large numbers, and we ask them to continue supporting us and believing in us. God willing, we will succeed this year.