Mali vs South Africa prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations betting tips on match 2024-01-15 20:00.
Mali and South Africa face off in their opening game of the African Cup of Nations at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, with Mali making their 13th appearance at the tournament and ninth in succession, while this is South Africa’s 11th finals and first participation since 2019. Mail enter the game as warm favourites despite failing to win any of the last three H2H matches (D1, L2), albeit their last meeting was over four years ago.
None of Mali’s prior 11 AFCON tournaments reached the heights of their first-ever appearance, where they finished as runners-up in Cameroon in 1972. The Eagles recent endeavours have ended at the Round of 16 stage in the last two tournaments, and considering they’re entering this edition with no defeats in their last eight matches (W6, D2), fans of FIFA’s 51st ranked nation will expect to at least reach the knockouts once again.
Mali coach Éric Chelle will be demanding the most of his troops, especially having been a Malian international himself with five appearances for the Eagles. He’ll come up against a former Belgian international in current Bafana Bafana manager Hugo Broos, who famously led an unfancied Cameroonian side to AFCON glory in 2017.
Broos has an almighty task on his hands if continental glory is the goal in 2024, as since winning the tournament in 1996, finishing as runners-up in 1998, and taking home the bronze medal in 2000, South Africa have failed to make an impact on the continental circuit. That’s highlighted by having failed to feature in the last two AFCON’s, while winning just one of their last five matches coming into the tournament means they’ll start this clash as outsiders.
Players to watch: Kamory Doumbia has burst onto the international scene by remaining unbeaten in his nine appearances for Mali (W8, D1), while also scoring the match opener in three of his four goalscoring outings. Attempting to outgun him will be Percy Tau, who’s netted eight of his last nine goals for South Africa after half-time.
Hot stat: There has only been one scoreless half of football in the five previous H2Hs.