Comoros v Mali preview
Comoros v Mali crew information
Mali are aiming to remain within the two computerized qualification positions for the final 16 on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when Tom Saintfiet’s facet play their Group A decider in opposition to Comoros in Casablanca on Monday.
Lassine Sinayoko’s penalty earned the Eagles a notable draw in opposition to Morocco of their second match of the finals on Tuesday, ending the host nation and event favourites’ report 19-match successful run in worldwide soccer.
“It gained’t be straightforward,” mentioned Saintfiet, expressing pleasure in his squad and suggesting Mali ought to have had a late penalty in opposition to Morocco and had sufficient possibilities to beat Zambia of their opening 1-1 draw.
“Comoros are crew however I’ve confidence in my gamers. We performed them twice this 12 months in World Cup qualifiers and gained each 3-0, however each recreation is completely different. We all know we have now to win and do all the things for a victory.”
Comoros carried out respectably of their 2-0 defeat to Morocco within the opening match of the event and shared the one 0-0 of the finals to this point with Zambia of their second recreation, having a aim by striker Myziane Maolida dominated out for a foul.
“Mali are an especially bodily crew,” mentioned coach Stefano Cusin. “It’s a must to be bodily sturdy… if we’re as much as the duty bodily, which we lacked within the qualifiers, we have now the means to place them in issue and key gamers who can put them in peril.
“I do know the Malian mentality, I do know the gamers individually. They’ve a robust mind-set and so they have technical high quality and bodily depth.”
Comoros should win to undergo, whereas a draw would doubtless put Mali in a robust place to qualify as one of many 4 finest third-placed groups from the six teams.
Comoros v Mali: AFCON crew information
Comoros made 4 like-for-like modifications in opposition to Zambia, changing defender Yannis Kari, midfielders Bendjaloud Youssouf and Iyad Mohamed and winger Faiz Selamani with Stated Bakari, Yacine Bourhane, Akim Abdallah and Maolida.
Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor saved a penalty as a part of a powerful show on his AFCON finals debut in opposition to Morocco.
Midfielder Aliou Dieng, who captained Mali in opposition to Zambia, was certainly one of eight gamers within the squad to be booked in opposition to Morocco, main Saintfiet to recommend that avoiding potential suspensions will form his crew choice in opposition to Comoros.
Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma missed the primary recreation via damage however began in opposition to Morocco, taking part in for 57 minutes.
Auxerre’s Sinayoko additionally scored in opposition to Chipolopolo, who denied Mali victory via a 92nd-minute equaliser.
Comoros v Mali: AFCON 2025 predicted line-ups
Comoros beginning XI: Yannick Pandorl, Kenan Toibibou, Ahmed Soilihi, Ismael Boura, Stated Bakari, Yacine Bourhane, Zaydou Youssouf, Akim Abdallah, Myziane Maolida, Youssouf M’Changama, Rafiki Stated
Mali beginning XI: Djigui Diarra, Woyo Coulibaly, Abdoulaye Diaby, Ousmane Camara, Nathan Gassama, Mamadou Sangare, Lassana Coulibaly, Aliou Dieng, Mahamadou Doumbia, Yves Bissouma, Lassine Sinayoko
watch Comoros v Mali: TV channel, reside on-line stream
Kick-off on Monday is at 19:00 GMT (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). Within the UK, reside AFCON 2025 protection is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channel. Within the USA, beIN Sports activities is the event broadcaster.
On-line reside streaming is offered on an unlimited vary of units via Channel 4’s web site and app and the beIN Sports activities app.
Comoros v Mali: AFCON 2025 stats
- Comoros’ clear sheet in opposition to Zambia was their first AFCON shut-out of their fifth match on the finals
- Their three-matches winless AFCON run is their longest sequence with out victory on the event
- A 3–2 win over Ghana despatched them to the final 16 of their solely earlier third group-stage match in 2021
- For a second version in a row, Comoros have failed to attain of their opening two matches. In 2021, they misplaced 1–0 and a couple of–0 in opposition to Gabon and Morocco
- The sport in opposition to Zambia marked the primary time in six AFCON matches that Comoros didn’t face a shot on track.
- Mali’s complete of 14 attracts from their 27 AFCON matches for the reason that 2013 version (W8 L5) is the second-highest complete behind DR Congo
- They’re now 12 AFCON group matches unbeaten (W5 D7), final shedding such a recreation of their second match of the 2017 event in opposition to Ghana
- A 0–0 draw in opposition to Namibia of their remaining group recreation in 2023 is the one time when Mali have failed to attain in simply certainly one of their final seven AFCON matches
- They haven’t misplaced their remaining group match of their final eight AFCON participations (W4 D4) and have solely misplaced such a recreation twice: 1–0 in opposition to DR Congo in 1994 and three–0 in opposition to Ivory Coast in 2008
- Having drawn all three of their group matches in 2015, Mali have been eradicated by the drawing of heaps, ending stage on three factors with Guinea on all tie-breaking standards
