AFCON 2025: Mali vs Zambia preview
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All original articlesAfter Morocco's top class performance last night, Group A opens further with Mali to take on Zambia. The former still chasing their first continental crown while the latter will want to repeat their exploits of 2012.
The pressure is already on them. If Morocco has already made its mark by dominating the Comoros in the opening match, Mali and Zambia know that an initial misstep could prove fatal in the race for the eighth final.
A historical trauma to erase
This is only the second time that these two nations have crossed paths in the final phase of the AFCON. The first confrontation remains an open wound for Mali: in 1994, the Zambians had outclassed the Eagles in the semi-final (4-0). Thirty years later, Mali, which holds the record for the most matches played in the competition (59) without ever having lifted the trophy, finally hopes to transform its status as an eternal outsider into that of champion.
The statistics argue in favor of Tom Saintfiet’s men. True specialists of the beginnings, the Eagles have never lost their opening match in 13 participations. Even better, they conceded only one goal in the qualifiers, making them the co-best defense on the continent. And as often with the Malians, the middle of the competition will be the key.
At the heart of this team, all eyes will be on Yves Bissouma. The midfielder from Tottenham arrives in Morocco with immense pressure on his shoulders. Currently in a delicate period at the club, where he is struggling to regain his usual influence in the Premier League, the Malian playmaker is expected by a whole people. For Bissouma, this edition represents the ideal opportunity to give himself a breath of oxygen and to prove that he remains the technical leader capable of taking the Eagles towards a historic triumph. Even if he should not start this match (he comes back from injury), he will have an essential role to play for his team.
Zambia: breaking the spiral
On the Zambian side, the time is for reconquest. The Chipolopolo are going through an alarming period of drought: no victory in their last ten matches in the final phase. To reverse the trend, the team is counting on the genius of its star Patson Daka. But they will also have as a weapon the trigger, Kennedy Musonda, involved in 70% of his team’s goals during qualifications.
The Opta stats corner
The eternal outsider: Mali holds the record for the number of games played in the AFCON (59) without ever having won the title.
Mali conceded only one goal in six games during the qualifiers of this AFCON 2025 (co-best total with Senegal).
Black streak: Zambia has not won any of its last 10 matches in the AFCON finals (8 draws, 2 defeats).
Master to play: Aliou Dieng is one of the only two players to have made more than 200 passes in the opposing half of the field during the playoffs.