Mali: Amadou Haidara comments on the crisis in the Malian Football Federation

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·21 February 2026

Mali: Amadou Haidara comments on the crisis in the Malian Football Federation

The Lens midfielder also discusses Mali’s run at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mali: Amadou Haidara comments on the crisis in the Malian Football Federation

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Amadou Haidara has voiced his frustration over the crisis that has paralyzed Malian football in recent months. Despite these turbulent times, the former Leipzig star believes the Mali national team delivered a strong performance at the latest Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

When asked about the turmoil following the resignation of the Malian Football Federation’s executive committee, Haidara admitted: "There are a lot of problems right now. We’ll see what happens next." The Lens midfielder then let his emotions show, adding:

This really angers me because we have so much potential and so many talented players. We can aim higher. To reach this stage... and still keep saying, 'If only we’d known, if only we’d done this...' For a footballer, a career goes by quickly. Today, we’re 28 or 30 years old, and when we see what’s happening, it’s frustrating.

The crisis is expected to be resolved soon, as the secretary general of the Malian Football Federation has announced a full timeline leading up to the election of a new management team. That’s what Haidara is hoping for, as he’s already shifting his focus to the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the upcoming World Cup.