Anthony Da Silva says Mali must use their encouraging start under his management to build a team capable of making history.
The new coach led the Eagles to two victories in their opening Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying matches in September before they drew 1-1 with Morocco in a friendly.
Mali began their campaign with a 3-1 win over World Cup qualifiers Cape Verde in Bamako, then followed it with a valuable 1-0 victory away to Liberia. They subsequently held Morocco on their own ground, producing a performance that caused serious problems for a side widely regarded as the best in Africa at present.
Da Silva, appointed Mali manager in June, told Afrik-Foot he was particularly pleased with the quality of his team’s football during his first international gathering.
The second-half display against Morocco earned praise from their manager Mohamed Ouahbi, who described Mali as “a very good team” that “made things difficult for us”.
Those comments pleased Da Silva, although he said the most important aspect was the progress made by the squad and the implementation of his ideas.
The coach recognises that there is still considerable work to do, but he believes this generation has the ability to take Mali to a new level.
Mali have never won the Africa Cup of Nations and have yet to qualify for a World Cup. Da Silva wants both barriers to be overcome, using the desire to leave a lasting mark on the country’s football history as a source of motivation during training camps.
Another positive from the September fixtures was the emergence of Ange-Martial Tia. The 19-year-old Stade de Reims player made an immediate impression on his first appearances for the national side, scoring twice and offering a direct, energetic threat.
Da Silva took the decision to introduce Tia to international football before handing him a starting place, and has already been convinced by the teenager’s potential.
Tia remains injured and has withdrawn from Mali’s squad for the two matches against Rwanda on 13 and 17 November. Those games form part of the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
His absence, however, has not altered Da Silva’s plans for the player, who won a bronze medal with Mali at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The early results, an emerging playing identity and the integration of young players provide the first foundations of Da Silva’s project. He is refusing to look too far ahead after one international window, but his ambition extends beyond the immediate fixtures.
Mali face Rwanda next as they seek further confirmation of their progress and continue their attempt to reach the Africa Cup of Nations 2027. Da Silva’s wider objective is to take the Eagles towards the top of African football and give this generation a permanent place in Mali’s history.
Anthony Da Silva’s comments were collected by Alexis Fonseca for Afrik-Foot.