FIFA.com spoke to former France international Alain Giresse about his Mali side’s recent progress, his ambitions ahead of the next CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and his thoughts on their qualifying group for Brazil 2014.
"The draw was kind on us because we managed to avoid the big names. Even so, there’s only one place available and we can’t afford any slip-ups,” Mali coach Alain Giresse.
Algeria will remain hopeful of a second successive FIFA World Cup finals after their Group H draw, but they will need to remain consistent with Mali ready to pounce and Benin hoping to spring a surprise.
Continental giants Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire were handed tough-looking tasks on the path to Brazil 2014, while the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa have a regional derby on their hands against Botswana.
Burkina Faso claimed their first African crown by beating hosts Rwanda in the CAF African U-17 Championship final. It was a dramatic conclusion to a rollercoaster tournament in which four teams qualified for Mexico 2011.
Africa’s four representatives for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico later this year are set as Côte D’Ivoire and Congo won on Saturday to book their tickets.
