Mali vs Senegal prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations – Play Offs betting tips on match 2026-01-08 16:00.
[p]Mali will be looking to win a game in regular time for the first time at this Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as they meet Senegal, who have been much more clinical on their journey to this stage of the tournament.Ā [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Ten-man Mali rode their luck in the last 16 as they needed a penalty-shootout victory over Tunisia to reach the quarter-finals, incredibly without having won a single game at this tournament in normal time (D4). The scars of their latest battle are obvious as they will be at least a man light here, leaving them somewhat depleted as they aim for a first AFCON semi-final appearance since 2013. The Eagles may have to gear up for another extremely long evening though, as their last three quarter-finals in this prestigious competition have all been level after 90 minutes, twice going to penalties (W2, L1).Ā [/p]
[p]After topping Group D with a pair of 3-0 wins and a draw, Senegal again showed their attacking quality as they came from behind to lead by half-time and eventually defeat Sudan 3-1 in the last 16. The Lions of Teranga should enter this contest with supreme confidence as they seek to extend their all-time best record of 15 unbeaten games at the tournament inside 90 minutes (W10, D5). The only blemish in that sequence was an eventual loss on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the 2023 edition, but their games are rarely that tense, with each of their last nine such victories all featuring 2+ goal margins.Ā [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Senegal have not lost any of the last ten H2Hs (W6, D4), including a 1-1 draw with Mali at the 2004 AFCON.Ā [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Maliās games at this tournament have seen four penalties awarded.Ā [/p]
[p]Maliās late equaliser against Tunisia ended a run of ten AFCON games without a goal for them between the 75th minute and full-time. Ā [/p]
[p]Six of Senegalās last eight internationals have seen only one side score.Ā [/p]
[p]Senegal have not trailed in normal time in any of their last four AFCON quarter-finals.Ā [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]El Bilal TourĆ© scored the winning penalty to send Mali into the quarter-finals, while he has also netted five competitive goals for his country, but never on foreign soil. Pape Gueye brought his international goal tally up to five with his first-half strikes against Sudan, three of which have come at AFCON finals, with both such games seeing Senegal score three times in victory.Ā [/p]
[p]Woyo Coulibaly will miss out for Mali through suspension here, while Lassana Coulibaly went off with an apparent injury against Tunisia. Senegal do not seem to have any fresh absentees.Ā [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Do not be surprised if another Mali game ends in a draw.Ā [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]