Despite failing to qualify for the 2019 edition, Mali have become a real force to be reckoned with at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™. They reached the final in 2015, the semis two years later, and finished third last time around in 2023. With Qatar 2025 now on the horizon, Les Aiglonnets (the Eaglets) are now realistic contenders for a world title that they have been circling above for a decade, without ever quite managing to swoop down for the kill.
The onus is now on Adama Diefla Diallo to keep this long-held dream alive; his predecessor, Soumaila Coulibaly, led Mali to a third-place finish at Indonesia 2023, so he is fully aware of the weight on his shoulders in the Middle East. “I’d be lying today if you told you that we’re going for anything other than winning [the tournament],” admitted the 41-year-old coach in an exclusive interview with FIFA. “With all due respect to the other teams, our objective is to lift that trophy.”
Although his playing career was not particularly successful, the Malian head coach has built a solid reputation as a tactician, which has earned him the right to lead the U-17s. “In the modern game, it’s not necessary to have been a great player in order to go on and become a great coach,” he quipped with a smile on his face.
In Qatar, Diallo will have plenty of experience to call upon. When Mali reached their first-ever World Cup final at Chile 2015, he was part of Baye Ba’s coaching staff for what remains the most memorable international campaign in the country’s history.
“I had trained as both a coach and a fitness coach; in 2015 I was hired as the fitness coach for the U-17 national team,” he explained. “We were crowned champions of Africa in 2015 in Niamey, Niger, with a squad including Mamadou Fofana, Abdoul Dante and Aly Malle, amongst others. Then I was there in Chile, where we finished runners-up in the World Cup behind Nigeria, who were strong, with [Victor] Osimhen.”
Although they lost 2-0 against Nigeria in Vina del Mar, the Eaglets would later go on to prove that their impressive run was no mere stroke of luck.
CAF has been granted ten berths for Qatar 2025, up from just four two years ago, as the competition has expanded from 24 to 48 teams. Faced with this new reality, the most recent CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, which typically serves as the World Cup qualifiers, was not really approached in the same way as a traditional qualification tournament.
“Our sights were set on lifting the trophy, because we figured that with ten of the 16 countries qualifying for the World Cup, we would get through no matter what,” Diallo admitted. The coach was right to proceed unafraid of missing out on the global showpiece as his Eaglets booked their spot with ease, reaching the final where they stumbled at the last hurdle against hosts Morocco. Nobody could break the deadlock in open play, and it was the Moroccans who prevailed on penalties, 4-2.
All that this talented new generation now needs is to find the final piece of the puzzle and see their adventures through to the end. In addition to their defeat against Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations, the young Malians suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak in the final of that same tournament’s qualification campaign after an entertaining 3-3 draw with hosts Senegal. The Eaglets converted four of their spot kicks, but the Young Lions of Teranga were flawless, scoring all five.
“That’s football, but I don’t really believe in luck,” Diallo said. “I’m a firm believer that the best team always wins. In those two matches, we were perhaps not as good as the teams that went on to win those two competitions. I think there are certain things we still need to work on.”
One thing is certain, however. Despite those two disappointments, fans attending Mali’s matches in Qatar will once again witness dynamic, high-tempo football that will be a pleasure to watch. Whether it’s the technical ability of Seydou Dembele, dubbed “Little Messi”, the goalscoring instincts of striker Ndjicoura Raymond Bomba, who has already been snapped up by Bayer Leverkusen, the tireless work rate of midfielder Ibrahim Diakite, or the defensive might of captain Tiemoko Berthe, who has already committed his future to Villarreal, Mali will have an abundance of talent on show.
“In those two competitions in Senegal and Morocco, I think everyone who saw us play would have been happy with our football and everything we did,” Diallo pointed out. “People were blown away.”
New Zealand, Austria and Saudi Arabia, the three teams drawn into Group L alongside Mali in Qatar, will need to be vigilant and will understandably be somewhat apprehensive about the challenges that lie in store. In spite of his country’s recent track record at the tournament, and the confidence he has in his players, Diallo too remains cautious about the three very different opponents that await the Eaglets.
“It will be very interesting,” he said. “One day, somebody came up to me and said that the competition would only really begin after the group stage, but I said, ‘No, our competition will start in the group stage because we’re going to be up against some very interesting teams.’ Nowadays, there are some nations who are doing exceptionally well at youth level.”
Those teams would surely be mistaken not to take inspiration from Mali’s methods, as the West African side firmly believe they can do great things. Will 2025 finally be Mali’s year?
Photos: CAF
