Composition, statistics and preview of the CAN clash

Mali vs Tunisia Match Preview

Tunisia will seek to produce a clear improvement in its performance to maintain its African Cup of Nations hopes alive when they face Mali in the round of 16.

The Carthage Eagles qualified for the round of 16, although they won only one of their three Group C matches, losing to Nigeria and draw with Tanzania after starting with a 3-1 victory against Uganda.

Having advanced beyond the quarter-finals only once since winning the tournament on home soil in 2004, coach Sami Trabelsi knows his team will need to raise their game if they are to have any chance of lifting the trophy.

Speaking after the draw against Tanzania, Trabelsi said: “The most important thing was to secure qualification. We have not done well in this competition in recent years and that is why qualification is so important.

“We may not have played in the best way possible, but we are very happy to have qualified. We will face stronger opponents in our next matches and we will really have to play better because the level of competition will be even higher and will force us to improve.”

Mali qualified in second place from Group A after drawing all three of their matches, including their clash with hosts Morocco, a result which underlines how difficult they are to beat.

The Eagles are unbeaten in their last six games and have not conceded more than one goal in a match since a 2-1 defeat to Ghana in World Cup qualifying in June 2024, in which they conceded a 94th-minute winner.

Mali have now reached the AFCON round of 16 at each of the last four tournaments, although they have not progressed past the quarter-finals since finishing third in 2013.

Despite this achievement, Mali coach Tom Saintfiet expects more from his players, calling on them to be more clinical in front of goal.

Speaking after they had been held to a 0-0 draw by the Comoros During the last Group A match, Saintfiet said: “It’s weird, honestly, because as a coach you want to win games, you want to do it also for the crowd, and it’s not that we didn’t play well, we scored two goals in three games, one penalty and one in normal play.”

“Everyone says we have a good football combination, that we need to be more efficient in front of goal, and that is something we need to work on before the upcoming match.”

Mali-Tunisia team news

Mali will be without midfielder Amadou Haidara due to suspension following his late sending off against Comoros.

Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane could be out with a knee injury.

Lineup planned for the Mali-Tunisia match

Mali: Diarra;; w. Coulibaly, Diaba, Aby and them. Camara, Gassa; Diegan, Doumbia, l. Coulibaly, Sangaré, Bursso, today; Syoko.

Tunisia: Dahmen; Abdi, Talbi, Bronn, Valéry; Skhiri, Gharbi, Mejbri; Achouri, Tounekti, Mastouri.

Statistics for the Mali vs Tunisia match

• Tunisia have not conceded a single goal in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, but have conceded five so far in AFCON.
• The Carthage Eagles are winless in four CAN meetings against Mali, losing two and drawing one.
• Tunisia, however, leads the general ranking against Mali, winning four of its seven matches.
• Five different players have scored for Tunisia so far at CAN 2025, with Elias Achouri scoring twice.
• On the other hand, Lassine Sinayoko scored both of Mali’s goals in the tournament.