Mali ready for any opponent in CHAN quarterfinals

Mali coach Nouhoum Diane says they are ready to tackle any opponent in the last eight of the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2020.

This comes after the Eagles secured their ticket to the quarterfinals of the tournament in Cameroon after finishing top of Group A.

They sealed their place thanks to the Demba Diallo’s strike in their 1-0 win over Zimbabwe at Japoma in Douala on Sunday.

Mali finished top of the group with seven points after the victory over Zimbabwe.

Cameroon finished second with five points, Burkina Faso third with four points while Zimbabwe ended bottom of the group with no points.

Mali will now face Group B runner up Congo in the last eight of the tournament exclusively designed for home-based players.

Diane says they are ready to take on any side in the last eight of the tournament as they have impressed so far in the competition

“We had to win this game to qualify for the quarter-finals and it’s done. Now we will prepare regardless of our next opponent,” the Mali coach Diane said in the post-match press conference.

“It’s always difficult to play this kind of game against an already eliminated team that can give it their all.

“We created a lot of opportunities that we weren't able to realize. But I'm happy with my team.”

To reach the knockout Mali opened their campaign with a 1-0 win against Burkina Faso, before drawing 1-1 against Cameroon and finishing it off with the victory over Zimbabwe.

Mali finished second in 2016 before crashing out of the group stage in last edition in 2018.