Mali U-17 head coach Adama Diallo has praised Zambia’s impressive progress ahead of their Round of 32 clash at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.

Diallo has noted that the Junior Chipolopolo is a stronger and more organised side than the one that featured at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year.

Zambia advanced to the knockout stages after beating Indonesia 3-1, thumping Honduras 5-2, and drawing 1-1 with Brazil, while Mali secured victories over New Zealand and Saudi Arabia but fell 3-0 to Austria. The two African sides will face off on Friday at 14:30 CAT.

Speaking after the draw, Diallo admitted that the tie will be far from easy.

“It’s a complicated, difficult draw because already, all the teams that made it out of the group stage are very good teams. So, there wasn’t really any preference, but still, it was a tough draw,” said Diallo.

Zambia has changed

The coach acknowledged Zambia’s evolution since the AFCON, noting that the team has shown significant improvement and maturity on the global stage.

“They’ve already been exceptional. They finished second in their group; they even drew against Brazil. The team has changed a bit compared to the Africa Cup because I saw them play there; they were eliminated in the quarterfinals, but now I think they’re a much stronger team. I believe it’s going to be a very good match for us too,” he said.

Diallo emphasised that at this stage, no team can be underestimated. “If you want to go far, you have to be ready to beat every team you face. There’s no such thing as preference because even the third-placed teams can be dangerous. We just have to go there, play to win, and give our best.”

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