Mali AFCON 2025 Preview
Mali's football team stands out as a strong contender heading into AFCON 2023, noted as a credible 'dark horse' due to a squad laden with talented and seasoned players. Historically, their best performance remains from the 1972 finals, but recent tournaments have shown they can handle knockout pressures. Under Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, Mali thrived during the qualifiers, showcasing a robust defense. Their key challenge lies in converting their dominant play into goals, an aspect crucial for succeeding in knockout formats. Mali's blend of youthful zeal and experienced strategy positions them for a potentially deep run in the tournament.
- Mali is a strong contender in AFCON 2023, noted as a top 'dark horse'.
- They have a history of solid performances but are yet to claim a title.
- Coach Saintfiet's leadership may take them beyond ‘nearly’ moments.
Mali can surprise with available squad (Getty Images)
Mali head to Morocco as one of AFCON’s most credible “dark horses”, with a squad filled with talented, athletic and increasingly streetwise players.
They have spent the last decade producing Europe-based midfielders and defenders with top-level experience, and the squad profile suggests a team built for tournament football.
The key is turning promise into a clean knockout run, something Mali have flirted with before without sealing the ultimate prize.
History at the Africa Cup of Nations
Mali are still chasing a first AFCON title. Their best finish remains a run to the final in 1972, where they ended as runners-up.
More recently, they have shown they can handle knockout pressure, including a third-place finish in 2012 and 2013. In the last three tournaments they have progressed to the Round of 16 twice, before hitting the quarter-finals in 2023.
| Year | Host Country | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Year | Host Country | Finish |
| 1972 | Cameroon | Runners-up |
| 1994 | Tunisia | Fourth place |
| 2002 | Mali | Fourth place |
| 2004 | Tunisia | Fourth place |
| 2008 | Ghana | Group stage |
| 2010 | Angola | Group stage |
| 2012 | Equatorial Guinea / Gabon | Third place |
| 2013 | South Africa | Third place |
| 2015 | Equatorial Guinea | Group stage |
| 2017 | Gabon | Group stage |
| 2019 | Egypt | Round of 16 |
| 2021 | Cameroon | Round of 16 |
| 2023 | Ivory Coast | Quarter-finals |
The Road to Morocco: The best defence in the section
Mali qualified in style from Group I, finishing top with 14 points and a plus–9 goal difference, although admittedly they were drawn in one of the weaker groups in the qualifying stages.
They scored 10 goals and conceded only once in their six matches, which should give them confidence as a side that often thrives when games are decided by small margins.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mali | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 14 |
| 2 | Mozambique | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 11 |
| 3 | Guinea-Bissau | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 5 |
| 4 | Eswatini | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 2 |
A firm hand on the wheel - Tom Saintfiet and the tournament edge
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet was appointed in 2024 with a clear brief: steady the team through qualifiers and push Mali beyond “nearly” moments at tournaments.
His reputational strength has been organisation and belief — qualities Mali will need in a group where Morocco’s crowd and intensity can tilt games quickly. Saintfiet has previously coached seven national sides from Africa, which offers him deep insight into how the beautiful game is played on the African continent.
In 15 matches leading Mali, the side have won nine times and lost just twice.
Squad Analysis: Great balance of youth and experience
Mali are typically at their best when the midfield sets the tone: winning second balls, breaking lines with carries, and allowing wide players to attack space.
A potential weakness facing them in the tournament is their finishing. Mali can control long spells of play without turning dominance into goals, but that is a tactic that becomes dangerous in one-off knockout ties.
If they defend with the discipline shown in qualifying, they have the potential to make a deep run in this tournament as they seek an elusive first triumph.
| Pos | Player | DOB (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 27 February 1995 (age 30) | 61 | 0 | Young Africans | |
| GK | 16 February 1990 (age 35) | 18 | 0 | Laval | |
| GK | 11 November 1994 (age 31) | 10 | 0 | Sirius | |
| DF | 27 January 1992 (age 33) | 59 | 3 | Paris | |
| DF | 21 January 1998 (age 27) | 48 | 1 | New England Revolution | |
| DF | 7 October 2000 (age 25) | 15 | 0 | Arouca | |
| DF | 10 July 1999 (age 26) | 14 | 1 | Braga | |
| DF | 3 February 2001 (age 24) | 9 | 0 | Grasshopper | |
| DF | 6 March (age 22) | 0 | Le Harve | ||
| DF | 26 May 1999 (age 26) | 3 | 0 | Angers | |
| DF | 5 January 2001 (age 24) | 2 | 0 | Sassuola | |
| DF | 10 April 1996 (age 29) | 0 | 0 | Baltika | |
| DF | 31 January 1998 (age 27) | 50 | 1 | Lecce | |
| MF | 30 August 1996 (age 29) | 47 | 2 | RB Leinzig | |
| MF | 6 January 2000 (age 25) | 42 | 5 | Tottenham | |
| MF | 15 October 1997 (age 28) | 41 | 2 | Al Ahly | |
| MF | 18 February 2003 (age 22) | 34 | 3 | Al Sadd | |
| MF | 18 February 2003 (age 22) | 26 | 14 | Brest | |
| MF | 27 October 1997 (age 28) | 9 | 9 | Lens | |
| MF | 15 May 2004 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Bochum | |
| MF | 23 December 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Al-Ittihad | |
| MF | 3 October 2001 (age 24) | 27 | 9 | Fenerbahce | |
| FW | 3 October 2001 (age 24) | 25 | 9 | Besiktas | |
| FW | 21 November 2002 (age 23) | 20 | 6 | Auxerre | |
| FW | 18 February 2006 (age 19) | 5 | 1 | Feyenoord | |
| FW | 7 February 2001 (age 24) | 5 | 1 | Watford | |
| FW | 26 September 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Laval |
Prediction: How will they perform?
Mali will be hard-pressed to top their group alongside favourites Morocco and two resilient sides in Zambia and the Comoros.
The Optimist View - Mali are a resilient side that have become hard-to-beat, and if they find their shooting boots and can start knocking in goals early they should have the game to hit Round 16. The smart money has them pencilled in for the quarters, but to get there they are probably going to have to go through Nigeria or Tunisia (presuming they finish as runners-up and not top of the Group A).
The Realist View - It’s looking like a strong campaign through to the quarter-finals, although a Round 16 exit is a strong possibility because of the draw.
Prediction - Mali to hit the quarters
They have the team DNA to win Group A, which opens up a strong path to the quarters… but they are likely to come undone again in the quarters because there are some really strong side in this tournament.
| Date/Day | Time (CET) | Mach | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 22 September | 16:00 | Mali vs Zambia | Mohammed V Stadium |
| Friday, 26 September | 22:00 | Mali vs Morocco | Prince Moulay Abdellah Staduim |
| Monday, 29 December | 21:00 | Mali vs Comoros | Mohammed V Stadium |
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Morocco | 3.75 |
| Egypt | 6.50 |
| Algeria | 7.00 |
| Senegal | 7.00 |
| Nigeria | 11.00 |
| Ivory Coast | 13.00 |
| Tunisia | 13.00 |
| Mali | 13.00 |
| Cameroon | 19.00 |
| South Africa | 41.00 |
| DR Congo | 51.00 |
| Angola | 69.00 |
| Burkina Faso | 83.00 |
| Zambia | 83.00 |
| Gabon | 83.30 |
| Mozambique | 101.00 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 101.00 |
| Benin | 101.00 |
| Sudan | 101.00 |
| Comoros | 151.00 |
| Tanzania | 151.00 |
| Uganda | 201.00 |
| Zimbabwe | 351.00 |
| Botswana | 501 |
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