Morocco vs Mali - prediction, team news, lineups

Having some enjoyed a cleanable commencement to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Morocco and Mali instrumentality a interruption distant from competitory shot erstwhile they quadrate disconnected successful a affable astatine the Grand Stade de Tanger connected Sunday.

Both sides met successful Group A of the 2025 AFCON past December, with Lassine Sinayoko netting a 64th-minute punishment to cancel retired Brahim Diaz’s first-half opener successful a 1-1 stalemate astatine the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Match preview

The shockwave that followed Confederation of African Football's ruling that stripped Senegal of the 2025 AFCON rubric and handed the crown to Morocco present feels similar a distant memory, with the Atlas Lions good connected people to unafraid their spot successful the 2027 variation of the continental showpiece aft what has been a coagulated commencement to their qualifying journey.

Morocco kicked disconnected the run with a 2-0 triumph implicit Gabon successful Rabat connected September 25 acknowledgment to goals successful either fractional from Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui and Soufiane Rahimi, 4 days earlier neatly dispatching Lesotho by the aforesaid scoreline successful Bloemfontein, South Africa.

In a one-sided matter astatine the Toyota Stadium, Mohamed Ouahbi’s men finished the crippled with implicit 70% possession, and their spell of sustained unit was rewarded, with Real Madrid guardant Diaz and 26-year-old Azzedine Ounahi uncovering the backmost of the nett to headdress disconnected a ascendant squad display.

This followed different awesome heavy tally successful the World Cup aboriginal this year, erstwhile the two-time African champions showed their people connected the planetary stages, edging retired Netherlands and Canada successful the knockout stages earlier suffering a 2-0 nonaccomplishment astatine the hands of France successful the quarter-finals connected July 9.

The decision against France remains Morocco’s lone nonaccomplishment crossed their past 37 games successful each competitions, with the Atlas Lions picking up 31 wins and 5 draws since a 1-0 decision against Kenya successful the Africa Nations Championship backmost successful August 2025.

Like this weekend’s hosts, Mali tin instrumentality pridefulness successful what has been a stellar commencement to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, with the Eagles picking up 2 wins from 2 to beryllium level connected points with Rwanda astatine the apical of the Group K standings.

A brace from Fenerbahce striker Dorgeles Nene and Ange Tia’s fifth-minute onslaught saw Mali cruise to a 3-1 triumph implicit Cabo Verde successful the radical curtain-raiser connected September 25, 4 days earlier Tia’s second-half extremity proved decisive in a 1-0 triumph implicit Liberia connected matchday two.

Anthony da Silva’s men, who are aiming for an 11th signifier AFCON appearance, had failed to sensation triumph successful the 3 matches preceding their qualifying outings, claiming 1 gully and losing twice, including a 1-0 decision against Senegal successful the quarter-finals of the 2025 AFCON backmost successful January.

While Mali person flipped the publication of late, adjacent up is the situation of a star-studded Morocco side, who are Africa’s highest-placed federation successful the latest FIFA World Rankings (6th), which could correspond a existent trial of their strength.

The Eagles person held their ain against Morocco successful the past, picking up six wins and six draws from the past 21 meetings betwixt the 2 nations, though they are without a triumph successful their astir caller 4 encounters, losing doubly and claiming 2 draws since a 1-0 affable triumph successful May 2006.

Morocco International Friendlies form:

Morocco signifier (all competitions):

Mali International Friendlies form:

Mali signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Morocco got the occupation done successful their 2 AFCON qualifying matches, and we expect Ouahbi to remainder immoderate dense hitters, with the likes of Anass Salah-Eddine, Soufiane El-Faouzi and Anderlecht striker Tawfik Bentayeb pushing for starting roles.

Having missed the opener against Gabon, Achraf Hakimi came connected arsenic a substitute versus Lesotho successful midweek and we expect the Paris Saint-Germain antheral to commencement connected the seat this weekend, alongside Mazraoui, who started the 2 qualifying games.

With 2 goals successful 2 matches, teenage midfielder Tia has caught the oculus for Mali successful the AFCON qualifiers and the Stade Reims II could beryllium handed different starting relation this weekend.

Paris FC striker Sinayoko, who has deed 10 goals successful Mali colours since his debut successful September 2021, should pb the onslaught erstwhile again, portion Aliou Dieng and Brentford summertime signing Mamadou Sangare should squad up successful midfield erstwhile again.

We expect Da Silva to sanction a beardown backmost 4 this weekend, meaning Daouda Guindo, Nathan Gassama, Ousmane Camara and skipper Hamari Traore should squad up successful defence erstwhile again, with Djigui Diarra starting betwixt the sticks.

Morocco imaginable starting lineup:

Bono; Salah-Eddine, Boudlal, Diop, E Ounahi; El Aynaoui, Targhalline, A Ounahi; Khannouss, Rahimi, Bentayeb

Mali imaginable starting lineup:

Diarra; Guindo, Gassama, O Camara, Traore; Dieng, Sangare, Doumbia; Nene, Tia, Sinayoko

We say: Morocco 2-1 Mali

Morocco and Mali get successful Grand Stade de Tanger successful precocious spirits, pursuing their tally successful the AFCON qualifiers, and they volition beryllium aiming to support the momentum going this weekend. We expect Da Silva to sanction a beardown XI, which should origin Morocco immoderate trouble, but we foretell the Atlas Lions volition amusement their prime and travel distant with a constrictive victory.

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