Mali is set to clash with Burkina Faso in the penultimate last-16 match of the Africa Cup of Nations, with a quarter-final encounter against either defending champions Senegal or hosts Ivory Coast at stake.
Mali emerges as the slight favorites, having topped Group E with victories over South Africa and a draw with Tunisia and Namibia.
Their objective is to break the pattern of exiting at the last-16 stage for the third consecutive AFCON.
Burkina Faso, finishing fourth in the previous edition, made a confident start in this tournament with a win against Mauritania but faced a draw with Algeria and a defeat to Angola, securing a spot as runners-up in Group D.
Match Details:
- Date and Kick-off Time: Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 5 pm GMT
- Venue: Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo
Where to Watch:
In Ghana, the game will be live on GTV Sports plus, Globe TV, DSTV, and more.
Team News:
- Mali appears to have no fitness concerns, with Yves Bissouma returning to the starting lineup.
- Lassine Sinayoko, a key player for Mali, remains impactful after scoring two goals in the tournament.
- Burkina Faso welcomes back Mohamed Konate and Ibrahim Toure, who were suspended for the final group-stage match.
- Djibril Ouattara is likely to be replaced, having failed to impress against Angola.
Prediction:
With Mali’s group matches producing only four goals, the knockout encounter is anticipated to be tight. Burkina Faso’s experience in deep AFCON runs might give them the edge, and a 1-0 victory for Burkina Faso is predicted.
Head-to-Head History:
- Mali Wins: 8
- Burkina Faso Wins: 1
- Draws: 1
Match Odds:
- Mali to Qualify: 4/7
- Burkina Faso to Qualify: 5/4
