Rabat, Morocco – E be like say Mali don waka enter ground like boxer wey just receive serious blow. Dem just suffer heavy 0-4 defeat from South Africa for Oujda. Chai, na wa o! But instead make dem sit down dey cry, dem don gather their energy again! Na so dem prepare for the quarterfinal against Morocco, the host country for TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024.
As dem dey enter Olympic Stadium for Rabat, crowd dey hot like furnace and ready to support their Atlas Lionesses. E go be serious show because Morocco don show say dem no come play. Dem dey bounce as top seed go enter this one with plenty confidence. But no worry, Mali no dey show sign of surrender. “Now na knockout stage: you win, you go through; you lose, you don go home,” na wetin coach Mohamed Houssein Saloum yarn, and him no talk am lightly o! (Talk true, nobody wan go home after this kind wahala).
Mali no be just dey play ball for here; dem dey fight for something dey important: revenge against demself. Striker Aissata Traoré don make am clear, say dem don turn page after that South Africa defeat. “You go see different team tomorrow,” she talk confidently. Their attack don dey average with just two goals for three matches, and e dey pain dem like say dem chop hot pepper. But as dem face Morocco, di plan na to strike hard from first minute.
Na where di fight dey hot! Morocco dey play like boxer wey sabi wetin e dey do – dey jab and dey wear dem opponent down with all dis calm and calculated moves. Jorge Vilda, di Moroccan coach, don sing praise for him girls, talk say dem dey ready to fight. “This match go give us extra energy,” him talk. Aziza Rabbah, dem central defender, don yarn say teamwork na di key, “We don turn family; dis harmony dey make us strong.” (Chai, na family matters wey we dey talk here, o!)
Mali no wan let anybody hold dem back; dem dey ready to bring strong, straight punch. Aïssata Traoré dey talk am clear: “To win, you must dey eager to pain your opponent.” E also add say dem go face di real problem inside demself – as e no be easy to confront yourself. Na serious mentality for dem head, and dem wan press high, dey impose dem impact like say dem dey for eighth round of boxing match, wey legs don dey tire but will dey push forward.
Despite di defeat, Mali still hold some strong players including backup goalkeeper Alima Cissé wey make four saves for di last match. Na record for their side, and striker Saratou Traoré, wey don dey put ball for target, dey ready to turn di game around. (E go still shock dem).
Morocco dey shine, no be lie, but dem no be untouchable. Na wetin di Malian coach talk as e dey analyze di game. “Di match go come down to di details,” him caution. Jorge Vilda know say Mali no be push-over; e recognize di hunger for semi-finals as dem dey eager to balm dia pride. “In no case, my girls no go lose focus,” he say proudly.
Aziza Rabbah no dey take am lightly either. “Psychological stress dey real, but we don ready. We wan show di best version of our team.” Na serious statement wey go dey echo as dem enter di pitch.
But more dan just victory, Aissata Traoré dey feel di weight of her entire country behind her. “Na an entire country dey count on us,” she talk. If dem fit qualify for semi-finals again, e go bring plenty visibility for Malian Women Football. Dem dey ready to fight garrison o! “If we need drop blood and soul for this pitch, we go do am,” she confidently conclude. (Omo, e be like say dem dey ready to scatter everywhere!).
Fan wey dey support dem for Morocco go fit act like mad 12th player. “We dey beg make dem support us more. I fit promise say we go grow and improve for di game.” This match go be battle turn to war. E no go sweet, but everybody dey ready make di best team win!
