West African Showdown: Senegal Favored to Edge Mali in AFCON Quarters

Africa Cup of Nations  -  Mali VS Senegal
Match Time:10-01-2026 00:00 Saturday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals will feature a heated West African derby between Mali and Senegal. The match is set to take place at Grand Stade de Tanger on Friday, January 9, at 23:00 WIB. Both teams will aim to secure a spot in the semifinals in this high-stakes encounter.

Team Analysis:
Senegal reached the quarterfinals confidently, defeating Sudan 3-1 after coming from behind, showcasing their champion mentality. Mali, in contrast, had a dramatic path, edging Tunisia 3-2 on penalties despite playing most of the match with ten men. Notably, Mali has yet to win any game in regular time during the tournament, recording four consecutive draws.

Player Situation:
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet must adjust his lineup due to the suspension of key right-back Woyo Coulibaly, likely replaced by Hamari Traore. Yves Bissouma remains a central figure in midfield alongside Lassana Coulibaly despite his previous penalty miss. Senegal, fully fit, will rely on Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson to lead the attack, with Pape Gueye’s midfield form posing a major threat to Mali’s defense.

Result Prediction:
Mali face a tough test as a “draw specialist,” while Senegal arrive with high confidence after an impressive round of 16 performance. Mali’s resilience was evident against Tunisia, surviving with ten men for most of the match. However, Senegal’s stronger individual quality and attacking firepower give them the edge to break down Mali’s defensive setup.

Predicted Result: Mali 1-2 Senegal.