Group A runners-up\u00a0Mali\u00a0face Group C runners-up\u00a0Tunisia\u00a0in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Saturday, 3 January. Kick-off is at 20h00 local time (19h00 GMT).<\/p>\n
This will be the 16th meeting between the two sides. Tunisia have won seven of the previous 15 encounters, Mali five, with three draws.<\/p>\n
The teams have met four times previously at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Mali remaining unbeaten (W2 D2). This will be their first knockout-stage meeting, with all four previous AFCON clashes having come in the group stages.<\/p>\n
They will be meeting at a fourth successive AFCON tournament, having also faced each other in 2019, 2021 and 2023, after first meeting at the finals in 1994.<\/p>\n
Mali defeated hosts Tunisia 2\u20130 in their opening match of the 1994 AFCON, progressing to the knockout rounds alongside DR Congo, while Tunisia were eliminated at the group stage.<\/p>\n
Their 2019 meeting ended 1\u20131 in their second group game, with both sides progressing \u2013 Mali as group winners and Tunisia as runners-up ahead of Angola and Mauritania.<\/p>\n
At the 2021 edition, a 48th-minute penalty from Ibrahima Kon\u00e9 handed Mali a 1\u20130 win in Limbe in their opening Group F match. Both teams progressed, Mali as group winners and Tunisia in third place.<\/p>\n
At the 2023 tournament, the sides met again in their second group game, which ended 1\u20131. Lassine Sinayoko gave Mali an early lead in the 10th minute before Hamza Rafia equalised for Tunisia in the 20th. Mali progressed as group winners along with South Africa and Namibia, while Tunisia were eliminated.<\/p>\n
Mali have scored in all four of their AFCON meetings with Tunisia and kept clean sheets in their 2\u20130 and 1\u20130 wins in 1994 and 2021. Mali have scored first in all four AFCON meetings (W2 D2).<\/p>\n
Three of Mali\u2019s five AFCON goals against Tunisia have come in the first half. Four of the seven total goals scored in AFCON meetings between the sides have come in the first half, with only the 2019 and 2021 encounters producing second-half goals.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
PAST MEETINGS<\/p>\n
OVERALL
Tunisia: P15 W7 D3 L5 GF13 GA11 GD+2
Mali: P15 W5 D3 L7 GF11 GA13 GD-2<\/p>\n
AFCON ONLY
Tunisia: P4 W0 D2 L2 GF2 GA5 GD-3
Mali: P4 W2 D2 L0 GF5 GA2 GD+3<\/p>\n
PAST AFCON MEETINGS
1994 \u2013 Group A (26 March 1994)
Tunisia 0 Mali 2\u00a0(Coulibaly 25\u2019, Sidibe 35\u2019)<\/p>\n
2019 \u2013 Group E (28 June 2019)
Tunisia 1 (Khazri 70\u2019) Mali 1 (Samassekou 60\u2019)<\/p>\n
2021 \u2013 Group F (12 January 2022)
Tunisia 0 Mali 1\u00a0(Kone pen 48\u2019)<\/p>\n
2023 \u2013 Group E (20 January 2024)
Tunisia 1 (Rafia 20\u2019) Mali 1 (Sinayoko 10\u2019)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mali \u2013 Key Statistics<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are into the knockout stages for a fourth successive tournament<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have progressed beyond the group stages for a 10th time<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have drawn 24 of their 62 AFCON matches, drawing more games than they have won (21) or lost (17)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are winless in their last four matches, their longest run since going six games without a win between 2015 and 2017 (D5 L1)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Finished second in Group A behind Morocco<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did not win any of their group matches, drawing 1\u20131 with Zambia and Morocco and 0\u20130 with Comoros<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are on a four-match winless run at AFCON; last win was a 2\u20131 Round of 16 victory over Burkina Faso in 2023 (D3 L1)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are competing in the Round of 16 for a fourth time<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lost 1\u20130 to C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire in 2019; in 2021 drew 0\u20130 with Equatorial Guinea before losing 6\u20135 on penalties<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At the 2023 edition, progressed past the Round of 16 for the first time with a 2\u20131 win over Burkina Faso<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victory would take them to the quarter-finals for a seventh time (previously 1994, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2023)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have been involved in four AFCON matches that went to extra time, three of which went to penalties<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have won one of four AFCON matches decided in extra time in open play (4\u20133 v DR Congo, 1972 semi-final)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have contested three penalty shoot-outs at AFCON, winning two and losing one<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Defeated hosts Gabon on penalties in the 2012 quarter-finals and hosts South Africa on penalties in the 2013 quarter-finals<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Last penalty shoot-out was a 6\u20135 loss to Equatorial Guinea in the 2021 Round of 16<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Biggest knockout-stage defeats were 4\u20130 losses to Zambia (1994) and Morocco (2004), both semi-finals<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Amadou Haidara became the third Mali player sent off at AFCON in the last three editions<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No team has received more red cards than Mali in the last three AFCON tournaments (3)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sinayoko had eight touches in the Comoros penalty area; only Moussa Marega (9 v Tunisia in 2019) has had more for Mali since 2010<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are yet to score a first-half goal at the current tournament<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Their last four AFCON goals have all come in the second half<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nathan Gassama recorded 102 touches against Comoros<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ousmane Camara completed 89 passes against Comoros<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tunisia \u2013 Key Statistics<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reached the Round of 16 after missing out in 2023<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have progressed from the group stages for the 14th time<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Only Egypt (20), Nigeria (19), Ghana (18), C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire (17) and Cameroon (17) have progressed more often<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Conceded in all three group matches<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beat Uganda 3\u20131, lost 3\u20132 to Nigeria, and drew 1\u20131 with Tanzania<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored 105 AFCON goals and conceded 101 in 86 matches<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The draw with Tanzania was their 31st at AFCON<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Victory over Uganda was their only win in the last seven AFCON matches (D3 L3)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven AFCON matches<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Will compete in the Round of 16 for a third time<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have never lost in the Round of 16 (W1 D1)<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beat Ghana on penalties in the 2019 Round of 16 after a 1\u20131 draw<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Defeated Nigeria 1\u20130 in the 2021 Round of 16 through Youssef Msakni<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Progression would see them reach the quarter-finals for a 12th time<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have reached the quarter-finals in five of their last seven AFCON appearances<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have been involved in six penalty shoot-outs at AFCON, winning three and losing three<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have lost four of their last five matches that went to extra time in open play<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have been awarded two penalties at the current tournament, joint-most with Morocco and Mali<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Are the only one of those teams to have converted both<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Had missed their previous four penalties (excluding shoot-outs) before this edition<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have avoided defeat in their last nine AFCON matches when scoring first<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Isma\u00ebl Gharbi scored his first AFCON goal against Tanzania<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Montassar Talbi attempted 79 passes against Tanzania, the most by a Tunisia player at the 2025 AFCON<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Taibi and Dylan Bronn each completed 70 passes in that match<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have scored in their last three matches, their longest scoring run since 2013\u20132015<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Group A runners-up\u00a0Mali\u00a0face Group C runners-up\u00a0Tunisia\u00a0in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":216374,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[85,46,105],"class_list":{"0":"post-216373","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-il","9":"tag-israel","10":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216373\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}