2023 AFCON: Mali v South Africa preview

by Thando Mpembe

Monday Jan 15, 2024. 14:10

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will continue with a Group E match between Mali and South Africa at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo.

Date: Tuesday 16 January 2024

Kick-off: 22h00 CAT

Head-to-head: Mali and South Africa have met in three previous matches. The Eagles have twice triumphed in AFCON quarterfinals (2-0 in 2002 and via penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2013), while Bafana Bafana won a friendly 2-1 in Port Elizabeth in 2019.

Mali’s last three results: The Eagles most recently claimed a 6-2 win over fellow AFCON finalists Guinea-Bissau last weekend in a warm-up match, a result which followed their two World Cup qualifying games in November: a 3-1 win over Chad and 1-1 draw against Central African Republic.

South Africa’s last three results: Bafana Bafana’s warm-up for the AFCON saw them play out a 0-0 draw with Lesotho last Wednesday. They were also in action in World Cup qualifiers in November, with a 2-1 win over Benin followed by a 2-0 loss at the hands of Rwanda.

Team news: Mali have no reported injury worries and should be at full strength for this match. South Africa, meanwhile, will expect Ronwen Williams and Themba Zwane to return to the line-up after missing the match with Lesotho due to minor knocks, while Mothobi Mvala’s groin injury is of more concern and could see him ruled out.

Key players, Mali: Real Sociedad’s classy Hamari Traore is the captain and most influential defender for the Eagles, but it is in midfielder where there real strength lies, as the energetic Yves Bissouma leads a list of top performers which includes the likes of Amadou Haidara, Mohamed Camara and others.

Key players, South Africa: Percy Tau is Bafana Bafana’s most important and experienced forward, with the team set to lean on him for goals, while Themba Zwane’s playmaking ability and Ronwen Williams’s role as goalkeeper will also be vital at this AFCON.