The Malian Football Federation announced the inclusion of Moroccan coach Bado Al-Zaki in the final list of candidates to take charge of the Mali national football team, reflecting the great appreciation for the extensive experience the esteemed coach possesses. This announcement came after the committee responsible for reviewing the candidates’ files advanced its work, listing Al-Zaki among five coaches competing to lead the “Mali Eagles.”
The committee began its work on May 13, 2026, thoroughly studying 28 files based on strict criteria that include holding a “CAF Pro” or “UEFA Pro” coaching license, extensive technical experience, as well as the sports and technical project presented by each candidate. This process aims to select the most suitable candidate to lead the Mali national team toward achieving its football ambitions.
The initial evaluation process resulted in the selection of five prominent names to continue competing for the coaching position of the Mali national team: Congolese Jean Florent Ibengi, Malian Mohamed Magassouba, Moroccan Bado Al-Zaki, and the Portuguese Antonio Conceicao Oliveira and Anthony da Silva. These coaches will undergo in-depth interviews with the committee before the final report is submitted to the federation’s executive office on May 24, 2026, to make the decisive decision about the new coach who will lead the Mali national team.
Bado Al-Zaki is considered one of the most prominent coaching names in Morocco and Africa due to his rich experiences with both national teams and clubs. His most notable achievement was leading the Moroccan national team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004, confirming his ability to achieve major successes. The Malian sports community is eagerly awaiting to find out if Bado Al-Zaki is the right man to lead the “Mali Eagles” in the upcoming phase.
