Mali and Equatorial Guinea will meet on Wednesday in Limbe in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The African rivals will battle for a place in the quarterfinals against either Senegal or Cape Verde.
The Eagles head into the match against Equatorial Guinea after topping Group F with seven points from nine possible. Mali defeated Tunisia 1-0 before drawing 1-1 with Gambia and winning against Mauritania 2-0.
Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, finished second in Group E behind the Ivory Coast. The National Thunder collected six points from nine possible courtesy of a 1-0 win over reigning champions Algeria and a 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone.
The only blemish on Equatorial Guinea’s group stage record was an opening day 1-0 loss to the Ivory Coast. Equatorial Guinea conceded just once in the group stage, but only scored two goals.
Mali bagged four goals in the group stage and conceded a mere one time.
Mali and Equatorial Guinea have played three times previously ahead of this weekend Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 match-up.
The Eagles won all three of those games without conceding a goal. The teams last met in 2016 with Mali winning 1-0.
Ibrahima Kone leads Mali in goals with three. He scored in each of Mali’s three group stage games with all three goals coming from the penalty spot.
Mali scored three of their four goals in the group stage from penalty kicks. Lens left-back Massadio Haidara scored Mali’s only other goal in the group stage.
Equatorial Guinea won their second and third games in the Africa Cup of Nations group stage by 1-0 scorelines. The National Thunder will be confident that they can once again claim a win to nil.
Mali coach Mohamed Magassouba has no reason to alter the side that defeated Mauritania 2-0 on matchday 3 of the group stage.
Kone should lead the line once more while RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara and Brighton’s Yves Bissouma will play as double pivots.
Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha may be short on talent with players mostly playing club football in Spain’s lower divisions, but they have performed above their No. 114 FIFA world ranking. Micha has little reason to change the squad that defeated Sierra Leone 1-0 last time out.
Mali have the superior talent and history is on their side. The Eagles will have a fight on their hands but should squeeze by Equatorial Guinea with a 1-0 victory.