Mali and South Africa are set to commence their Africa Cup of Nations journey as they clash at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on a Tuesday evening. Grouped in Group E alongside Namibia and 2004 champions Tunisia, both teams aim for a spot in the knockout stages.
Mali, in their 13th AFCON appearance, boasts an impressive qualifying campaign, netting 15 goals and securing five wins in six games. Their unbeaten streak of seven matches, including six wins, positions them as formidable contenders.
With 54 AFCON games without clinching the title, Mali’s historical best was in 1972 as runners-up. The team, led by Eric Chelle, displayed dominance in a recent 6-2 victory against Guinea-Bissau, fostering confidence for the upcoming challenge.
The encounter against South Africa, whom they defeated in two previous AFCON meetings, stands as a pivotal moment. Victories in 2002 and 2013 quarter-finals underline Mali’s historical edge over the Bafana Bafana.
South Africa, making their 11th AFCON appearance, returns after missing the 2019 edition. Under coach Hugo Broos, their 2019 quarter-final journey ended with a 2-1 loss to Nigeria. Despite a decent qualifying campaign, their recent form includes only one win in five matches.
Currently ranked 66th globally, South Africa’s AFCON title came in 1996. Heading into the group opener, they face the challenge of overcoming Mali, who have never lost an opening game in the competition, boasting seven wins and five draws since 1972.
Mali enters the match with an impressive form line of WWWWDW, while South Africa’s recent performances are marked by WDDWLD across all competitions. The clash promises to be a riveting start to their respective campaigns in the Africa Cup of Nations.
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