Africa’s continental contest (AFCON) continues this week when Tunisia lock horns with Mali at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Group F. Kick off on 12th January 2021 at 16:00 EAT.
Tunisia heads to Cameroon following one of the most dominant qualifying runs in the history of the tournament, topping Group A with a healthy seven-ponuint lead over runners-up Equatorial Guinea after claiming five wins from six games -the most of all teams in the qualifiers and scoring the second-most goals with 14 in the qualifiers.
The Eagles of Carthage will be looking to bounce back from the 0-2 Arab Cup final defeat at the hands of Algeria in their most recent fixture. In that game, Tunisia managed 57 % possession, 14 shots with three of them on target. Algeria got 14 shots with seven of them on target and goals by A. Sayoud (99′) and Y. Brahimi (90’+).
Meanwhile, Mali occupies 53rd place in the FIFA rankings. Mali has been regulars in the Africa Cup of Nations as they have now qualified for eight consecutive tournaments. They were disqualified 1-0 by Cote d’Ivoire in the round of 16 of the last AFCON and will be hoping for better luck this time around.
Mali takes this trip on the back of 1-0 qualifiers victory versus Uganda in their last fixture. In that game, Mali got 45% possession, nine shots with four of them on target add a goals scored by Kalifa Coulibaly (19’). Uganda had 14 shots with four of them on goal.
Tunisia vs Mali head to head
Since 2011, these two sides have played against each other four times. Out of the four meetings Tunisia has two wins, Mali s dingle win and the other one match played out draw.
- Tunisia 1-0 Mali 15/06/21
- Tunisia 1-1 Mali 28/06/19
- Tunisia 1-2 Mali 31/01/16
- Tunisia 4-2 Mali 11/08/11
Home
- Tunisia 0-2 Algeria
- Tunisia 1-0 Egypt
- Tunisia 2-1 Oman
- Tunisia 1-0 United Arab Emirates
- Syria 2-0 Tunisia
Away
- Mali 1-0 Uganda
- Rwanda 0-3 Mali
- Kenya 0-1 Mali
- Mali 5-0 Kenya
- Uganda 0-0 Mali
Tunisia team news
Coach Mondher Kebaier has a fully fit squad at his disposal.
Mali team news
Mali also comes in with a clean bill of health in this squad.
Prediction and odds
Mali is in a four game winning streak and they look better defensively and offensively at the moment and they might be able to stop Tunisia who rankings have not been in good form recently despite higher rankings in the FIFA.
- Goals over 2.5
- Double Chance
- both sides to score
