Mali Vs Guinea-Bissau

Mali and Guinea-Bissau are set to clash this Friday in the latest round of qualifying fixtures for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, with both teams vying for crucial points in their quest for qualification.

The hosts currently hold second place in Group I, having accumulated four points from two matches. They find themselves tied with group leaders Mozambique but are positioned lower due to an unfavorable head-to-head away goal differential.

Following a draw against Mozambique in their opening fixture, Mali bounced back with a narrow away victory over Eswatini, largely thanks to an early goal from Yves Bissouma. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has now netted two goals in the qualifiers. As they prepare for their third match, Mali will be keen to capitalize on their solid home form, which has historically played a significant role in their AFCON campaigns.

Under the leadership of new head coach Tom Saintfiet, who took the reins in August, Mali has shown signs of stability. Their campaign began with a challenging draw against Mozambique, which they followed up with a victory against Eswatini. This win marked Saintfiet's first since taking charge and extended Mali's unbeaten streak in AFCON qualifying to four matches.

The last time Mali faced defeat was in March 2023, when they lost to Gambia. Since then, they have maintained an impressive unbeaten run at home in AFCON qualifiers that dates back to 2014, encompassing 14 matches.

Mali has historically dominated head-to-head matchups against Guinea-Bissau, winning six of their seven encounters, including a commanding 6-2 victory in a recent friendly match earlier this year. This trend could play a significant role in their favor.

With a strong home record, positive historical results against Guinea-Bissau, and a desire to seize control of Group I, Mali is eager to secure a victory. A win would not only help them maintain their pursuit of the top position but also inch them closer to their 14th appearance in the AFCON.

Guinea-Bissau enters this matchup in third place in Group I, with three points from two matches. They trail Mali by just one point after starting their AFCON qualifying journey with a win over Eswatini, followed by a narrow defeat to Mozambique that snapped a four-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

Despite the setback, Guinea-Bissau remains well-positioned in the race for qualification, and a favorable result against Mali could keep them within striking distance of the group leaders as they aim for their fifth consecutive AFCON appearance.

The Djurtus have demonstrated strong form in recent AFCON qualifiers, boasting seven victories and just two losses in their last ten matches. This experience from previous AFCON tournaments will be crucial as they face a challenging Mali team.

Guinea-Bissau approaches this encounter with a sense of urgency, recognizing that a win—or even a draw—would significantly bolster their chances of securing a spot in next year’s AFCON.