Head coach of the Malian national team, Éric Sékou Chelle has taken responsibility of his side’s exit in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023. 

The Eagles were knocked out by a 9-man Cotê d’Ivoire despite their dominance in the second half. 

Reacting to Cotê d’Ivoire’s late extra time win, Éric Sékou Chelle expressed his disappointment in the result. 

“I’m disappointed for my players and the population of Mali as well, I have always respected everybody, whether it is the National team or the fans. 

He went ahead to take responsibility of the result which has sent Mali home and also apologized to the fans. 

“Of course I do make mistakes sometimes and it is so because I am a human being, if I have offended anyone, they should forgive me. 

“We did everything to win this game but it didn’t happen, it’s a failure but we will keep our head up, the first person to blame is me, I will go to Bamako to discuss my future with the Malian Federation,” he added.