● Mali have scored just two goals in their previous five AFCON games against Ivory Coast (conceded nine), against no team that they’ve played more than twice in the competition have they scored fewer goals.
● Mali have progressed from all five of their previous quarter-final appearances at the AFCON, indeed it is the most number of matches any team has played in this round without ever being eliminated.
● Ivory Coast have only scored three goals in getting to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023, the fewest they’ve ever scored in a single edition when playing a minimum of four matches.
● Ivory Coast are through to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023 despite losing two of their last three matches; prior to the 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their second group game this year, they’d only lost two of their previous 19 games in the competition.
Mali XI: Diarra; Traore, Haidara, Kouyate, Niakate, Samasseskou, Couliabaly, Sacko, Traore, Sinayoko, Doumbia.