Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group Stage

Oct 15, 2024 at 5pm UK

Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro

Guinea-Bissau vs Mali

Match preview

Guinea-Bissau came away empty-handed for the second successive Africa Cup of Nations qualifier as they went down 1-0 to Mali in the first of two back-to-back matches on Friday.

After a goalless first half at the Stade du 26 Mars, Stuttgart striker El Bilal Toure broke the deadlock two minutes after the hour mark to give the home side a deserved victory.

Before that, Guinea-Bissau started their qualifying journey with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Eswatini on 5 September, thanks to a first-half strike from Bura Nogueira, five days before crashing to earth in a 2-1 defeat to Mozambique at the Estadio do Zimpeto.

Luis Boa Morte's men have now failed to win all but one of their 10 matches in all competitions this year, losing seven and drawing two - a run that saw them crash out of the 2023 AFCON at the group stage after losing three straight games in Group A in January.

Despite this poor run of form, Guinea-Bissau remain on course for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they currently sit second in Group A, four points behind leaders Egypt.

While the Djurtus will be looking to bounce back from Friday's defeat and get their qualifying campaign back on track, they will be under the cosh at the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro as they have lost each of their last four games against Mali and have not won any of the last 15 meetings between the two nations (12L 3D) since a 1-0 victory in February 1984.

Friday's victory left Mali as one of the 16 teams yet to taste defeat in the 2025 AFCON qualifying race and they will go into Monday's clash with a five-point lead at the top of Group I.

Tom Saintfiet's side began their campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mozambique in Bamako on 6 September, four days before a Yves Bissouma strike in the seventh minute secured a 1-0 win over Eswatini.

Mali are now unbeaten in six of their last seven matches in all competitions, winning four and drawing two, scoring eight goals and keeping five clean sheets since their 2-1 extra-time defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFCON in January.

Les Aigles' only defeat in that time came on 6 June when they were beaten 2-1 by Ghana at the Stade du 26 Mars in Group I. They currently sit fourth in the group with five points from four games.

Mali, currently 54th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, have taken seven points from the first nine available in the race for a place in Morocco and top Group I, two points clear of second-placed Mozambique.

Recent Performance

Guinea-Bissau Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:WLL

Guinea-Bissau form (all competitions):LDDWLL

Mali Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:DWW

Mali form (all competitions):WLDDWW

Injuries and suspensions

Guinea-Bissau

No sidelined players

Mali

-- Ibrahima Sissoko

-- Dorgeles Nene

Possible starting lineups

Guinea-Bissau possible starting lineup:

Embadje; Cande, Sambinha, Sangante, Encada; Semedo, Bikel, Banjaqui, Nogueira; Beto, Balde

Mali possible starting lineup:

Diarra; Diakite, Diaby, Fofana; Sinayoko, Dieng, Camara, Doucoure; Bissouma, Djenepo, Toure