Mali manager Mohamed Magassouba has come under plenty of criticism in the last month due to the underachieving performance of his team at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations as Les Aigles crashed out on penalties to Equatorial Guinea in the Round of 16. Magassouba was publicly reprimanded by Malian football authorities after he made comments that antagonized shareholders and fans and the Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) to local media, with FEMAFOOT calling for unity and focus ahead of the team’s important final round qualifying matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup against Tunisia.
Further controversy arose related to the two-legged playoff against Tunisia when representatives of the Tunisian side arrived in the Malian capital of Bamako to inspect the Stade du 26 Mars and its pitch, but authorities refused to allow the Tunisian delegation into the stadium. Articles on both issues are below.
