Cusin positive ahead of Mali clash despite star-studded Eagles side
Recently appointed Comoros head coach, Stefano Cusin is wary of the danger posed by a quality Mali side ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Eagles on Friday.
Comoros, who impressively booked their place in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be hoping to do the same for the global showpiece as they prepare for Match Day 5 and 6 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The islanders face Mali on Thursday before taking on Central African Republic on Monday, 24 March.
Despite being drawn against some of the best African football nations including Ghana and Mali, Comoros top the Group I with three wins and one loss from four matches so far and will be looking at possibly adding to their tally of points against their more fancied opponents on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter against Mali, Cusin said they are facing one of the most talented and experienced teams on the continent, but maintains his belief that anything is possible in football.
'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. 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.
Heading up the Comoros national team marks Cusin's return to African football, having coached the U-20 Cameroonian national team. He is also the former Technical Director of the Congolese Football Federation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
10 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Saudi Arabia lose 2-1 to Australia in World Cup qualifier
Rana Atef On Tuesday, the Saudi national team lost 2-1 to their Australian counterpart in the final round of the third stage in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The game took place at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Saudi Arabia's goal was scored by Abdulrahman Al-Aboud in the 19th minute of the match, which was attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the main stand. Australia equalized in the 43rd minute through Conor Metcalfe, before Mitchell Duke added the second goal in the 48th minute. The first-leg encounter between the two teams in Sydney had ended in a goalless draw. Saudi Arabia's hopes to qualify for the global tournament are still alive as they will participate in the Asian playoffs. read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
CAF
20 hours ago
- CAF
Nora Häuptle (Zambia): 'There is no elevator to success.'
With a clear and effective method, Nora Häuptle relies on discipline, active listening, and a deep focus on collective values to help her team grow Around stars like Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji, Zambia is built on a united, humble squad deeply rooted in its heritage The goal is to win the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and etch the Copper Queens into the history books of African football She arrived in Lusaka with her whiteboard, her Swiss accent, and above all, her clear ideas. Since January this year, Nora Häuptle has been the new head coach of the Copper Queens. At 41, the former Ghana national team coach has taken the reins with one clear ambition: to transform a talented group into genuine contenders for the continental title. The challenge is massive. Their first test came in February against Malawi (a 2–3 loss), and in April, they made good on promises during a tournament in China. Slowly but surely, a sense of cohesion is building around a united squad and a game identity that's taking shape. 'We're taking it step by step—there's no elevator to success,' says Häuptle, clear-eyed and already fully invested in the Zambian project. In a football-mad country, the Swiss coach quickly found her footing. With leaders like Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji - international stars yet deeply rooted in their culture—Häuptle promotes humility and high standards. She listens, consults, decides. And above all, she unites. A few weeks out from the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024, Zambia is clearly stating its ambitions. Drawn into a challenging group alongside Morocco, DR Congo, and Senegal, the team moves forward with one goal in mind: to bring the trophy home. Because here, everyone believes. Nora Häuptle most of all. You took over Zambia in January. How have your first months been at the helm of the Copper Queens? Nora Häuptle: Thank you. I started on January 1st. In February, we played two matches against Malawi, and in April, we took part in an international tournament in China. So far, the journey has been good. We've mainly focused on our playing principles and a slightly refined style. The players are very open-minded. What surprised you most about Zambian football and your players? What struck me the most is the incredible passion. People in Zambia are crazy about football. Wherever I go, even outside of a professional setting, people approach me and share their love for the game. There's a deep connection to football and a shared vision: to bring a trophy home with the women's team, just as the men's team did in 2012. In fact, I sense even more excitement around the women's national team than the men's. These emotions and this passion drive me deeply. How have you built your relationship with this squad, especially key players like Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji? It's an honour for me to work with such exceptional players. We have incredible talent on this team, but what impresses me most is their humility. On a human level, they're very grounded, deeply connected to their roots—even though they're superstars. That comes through in small gestures. For example, in February, the training fields were in poor condition. I expected them to complain, but they didn't say a word. They trained with full commitment. I appreciate that they never forget where they come from, that they support their communities, and that they are role models. For my part, I try to engage with them as equals—collaboratively, always open to their input. Of course, I have to make the final call, but for now, I feel a very strong bond and deep commitment within this group. You coached Ghana before Zambia. You clearly have a deep investment in African football. What makes it so special to you? For me, it's a privilege to work in Africa. There's a vast reservoir of talent—not just in the players, but in the potential for overall development. With Zambia right now, I genuinely feel there's a chance to raise the level of the game. I enjoy playing the role of 'developer'—taking teams to the next level. And then there's the incredible passion for football. I've also learned so much culturally. I strive to stay open-minded, because it's a true exchange: I give, but I also receive so much. I'm deeply inspired by the continent's history and its people. I really want to continue this journey here. This upcoming TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024 will be your first. What does it mean to you professionally and personally? Yes, it'll be my very first WAFCON, my first major tournament on the continent. With Ghana, I had qualified the team after three years of work. That was a great journey. Now I have the pleasure of participating with Zambia. For me, it's a kind of fulfilment. It's also a chance to prove our worth at the highest level. We've invested so much into this team, with so much passion. And in Zambia, we all share one vision: to bring a trophy home. That's a huge motivation for me. I just want to make sure we move forward step by step, with curiosity and enthusiasm. I can't wait for the tournament to begin. Zambia will be in Group A with Morocco, DR Congo, and Senegal. What's your analysis of the group? It's a fairly diverse group in terms of playing styles. I know Senegal a bit from my time with Ghana. They're a very physical team, with technically skilled players. Many of them play in France, a physically demanding league. DR Congo is home to the current CAF Women's Champions League winners (Editor's note: TP Mazembe), which means a strong club foundation. Often, these clubs form the backbone of the national team. So we're expecting a tough, combative match there. As for Morocco—you can clearly see the results of their federation's investment, for both men and women. Their game is more possession-based. Zambia recently played them in Olympic qualifiers, so we're familiar with their approach. How do you manage the collective pressure? Yes, expectations are high. But personally, I don't read much of what's said around us—I try not to let outside pressure into my mind. I always come back to the small daily steps of our work. I know there's no elevator to success, only stairs. I prefer to focus on our performance. I always say: if we work hard on our performance, results will follow. So I stay focused on that. How do you build unity in a team that's increasingly under media scrutiny? I think we've built an inner life unique to our group, and that's our focus. For me, team stability is rooted in its values. We're still in that process—defining our values together, understanding what they mean concretely, and then living them daily. I believe that when that foundation is strong, even if there are ups and downs in performance, we never lose what matters most. We can lose a game, yes—but we must never lose our values. Coming back to that base helps us face pressure with greater composure. How do you balance the experienced internationals with the young talents from the local league? Recently, our U17 team qualified for the World Cup, which proves the depth of talent we have here. We do have some very gifted young players, and I'm gradually bringing them into the senior setup. For me, it's the squad as a whole that matters. We need to build a system around our key players. We have some outstanding individuals, so the challenge is finding a way to make them work together effectively on the pitch while maintaining team cohesion. For example, during the tournament in China in April, some of our key players couldn't travel. It was an opportunity to give game time to younger players—and I believe in them. They stepped up. For me, it's all about finding the right balance. Coach, you're still young, but let's talk legacy. What do you hope to leave behind in Zambian football? I only started at the beginning of the year, so I'm not thinking much about legacy yet. But the vision of the country—and the players—really inspires me: to win a trophy. That's a clear goal. Beyond that, I'd also like to be remembered as a good person, someone who stayed true to her values. Someone who shared her passion for football, but also someone who inspired others, both in sport and beyond—here in Zambia.
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ahly target winning all games at Club World Cup: Moroccan defender Dari
Ahly will open their campaign in the first match of FIFA's newly expanded 32-team tournament against the US outfit Inter Miami in Miami on Sunday. 'We are preparing strongly for the World Cup confrontations with full concentration. We arrived early in the USA and adapted quickly to the atmosphere,' Dari told the club's official website late on Monday. 'We train well and work hard to win all games. The opening match will be a strong one, and we should be at full concentration to win,' he added. Ahly have been drawn in Group A alongside Palmeiras (Brazil), FC Porto (Portugal), and Inter Miami (USA). Dari said that Ahly is focusing on all the group games, adding that every match has its own circumstances, stressing that winning the opening game will be a big boost ahead of next games. 'Ahly players are determined to achieve good results. We hope to deliver outstanding performance to please the fans,' he concluded. Amid their current training camp in Miami, Ahly lost 5-3 on penalties to Mexican side Pachuca after a 1-1 draw in a friendly match held at Inter Miami's Stadium on Sunday. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
