Mali Look to Maintain AFCON Hex Over Tunisia in battle of the “Eagles”
The road to Rabat continues at the AFCON 2025 and a familiar rivalry takes center stage today, at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
Mali and Tunisia—two teams show-named “Eagles”—clash for a spot in the quarter-finals. While Tunisia holds a slight edge in their all-time head-to-head record, Mali has been their kryptonite in the AFCON tournament itself, remaining unbeaten in all four of their previous continental meetings.
Historical Context and Past Meetings
This encounter marks the 16th time these two nations have faced each other across all competitions. Historically, Tunisia has been the more successful side with seven wins compared to Mali’s five, while three matches have ended in draws. However, the narrative shifts dramatically when focusing solely on the Africa Cup of Nations. In their four previous AFCON encounters, Mali has never lost to the Carthage Eagles, recording two wins and two draws.
The rivalry began at the 1994 tournament, where Mali stunned hosts Tunisia with a 2–0 victory. More recently, they have met in three consecutive editions: a 1–1 draw in 2019, a narrow 1–0 win for Mali in 2021, and another 1–1 stalemate during the 2023 group stages. Interestingly, Mali has scored first in every single one of these AFCON meetings, a psychological trend they will be desperate to maintain as they head into their first-ever knockout clash.
Pre-Match Talk from the Camps
The mood in the Malian camp is one of quiet confidence mixed with a need for concentration. Coach Tom Saintfiet acknowledged the pedigree of his opponents, describing Tunisia as a very strong team with excellent organization and experienced players. Despite reaching the Round of 16 without a win—recording three draws in the group stage—Saintfiet remains bullish, stating that his side proved they can compete with the best after their performance against Morocco. He emphasized that whether the game is decided in 90 minutes, 120, or on penalties, the Eagles of Mali are prepared to find the back of the net.
On the Tunisian side, coach Sami Trabelsi is viewing the knockout stage as a fresh start. He admitted that while their group stage performances were not always at the highest level, the primary goal was to secure qualification and move past the disappointments of previous years. Defender Yan Valery echoed this sentiment, calling the Round of 16 a “new competition” where focus is paramount. The Carthage Eagles are buoyed by the vocal support they have received in Morocco and believe they have prepared sufficiently to deliver a performance that will see them through to the next round.
Match Officials and Team News
CAF has appointed a highly experienced officiating crew. Abongile Tom of South Africa will take the whistle as the center referee. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by Brighton Chimene from Zimbabwe.
Regarding team news, Mali faces a significant blow as midfielder Amadou Haidara is suspended following a red card in their final group match against Comoros. On the other hand, Tunisia is monitoring the fitness of star winger Elias Achouri and midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, though initial reports suggest both may be available to play some part in the match.
Projected Starting Lineups
Mali (4-2-3-1): Djigui Diarra; Fodé Doucouré, Abdoulaye Diaby, Ousmane Camara, Nathan Gassama; Mohamed Camara, Yves Bissouma; Mamadou Sangaré, Kamory Doumbia, Nene Dorgeles; Lassine Sinayoko.
Tunisia (4-3-3): Aymen Dahmen; Yan Valery, Dylan Bronn, Montassar Talbi, Ali Abdi; Ismaël Gharbi, Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri; Elias Achouri, Hazem Mastouri, Sébastien Tounekti.
