Neither of these sides can afford to lose, but it will be the Senegal national football team who are likely to outshine the Mali national football team in their upcoming AFCON clash
Match info: AFCON Quarter-final
Venue: Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tangier
Date: Friday, January 9, 2026
Time: 5 pm Nigerian time
A West African derby will see Mali battle it out with Senegal in the first quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Grand Stade de Tanger on Friday, for a place in the last four of the competition.
Les Aigles got past Tunisia 3-2 on penalties in the previous round, while the Lions of Teranga sent Sudan packing from Morocco in the same round.
Head-to-head:
- Mali have won nine of the 42 meetings between the two teams.
- Senegal recorded 19 victories.
- The remaining 14 clashes ended in draws.
- Mali have only won one of their last five games.
- Senegal have secured four wins in their last five attempts.
- Mali are yet to win a game in regulation time at this AFCON.
- The Eagles have failed to secure a win in their last five fixtures against the Lions of Teranga.
- Four of their last six meetings produced at least three goals.
Form:
- Mali in the AFCON: D-D-D-W
- Mali in all competitions: D-D-D-D-W
- Senegal in the AFCON: W-D-W-W
- Senegal in all competitions: W-W-D-W-W
Team News:
- Woyo Coulibaly is suspended, hence keeping him out of action for Mali.
- Senegal might miss out on the services of Assane Diao due to his fitness issues.
Player(s) to watch:
- Lassine Sinayoko barged in with a last-minute goal, which helped his side secure a draw, then they eventually managed to seal the win via penalties. He will be yet again looking to help his side in the attacking front and is also going to step up his game. A top performance by Sinayoko can help the Mali national football team.
- Pape Gueye is coming in after scoring a sensational brace in the previous game for the Senegal national football team. Pape Gueye can control the midfield well and is surely capable of scoring goals. The 26-year-old is going to be one of the main men in the squad for the Lions of Teranga.