Luanda: Mali coach Alhadji Dicko said this Monday in Luanda that the victory over Guinea, 70-67, at the Kilamba pavilion, was due to the strong mental capacity and winning attitude of his athletes.

According to Angola Press News Agency, Dicko emphasized the necessity of instilling a winning mindset in the players for the Afrobasket 2025 quarterfinal qualifying playoff game, especially given the young nature of the team. He highlighted the importance of motivating the players to secure a victory in the crucial match.

Looking ahead to the next game against C´te d'Ivoire in the quarterfinals, Dicko acknowledged the challenge, having already faced tough teams like Senegal and Guinea. Despite the difficulty, he reiterated that the team's goal remains to win, while maintaining respect for all opponents.

Afrobasket 2025 is being held as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of National Independence, which will be commemorated on November 11th.