RABAT — Mali and Zambia will meet at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the second time when they open their Group A campaign at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Monday.
Their only previous meeting at the AFCON finals came in the semi-finals of the 1994 tournament on April 6, 1994 at Stade El Menzah in Tunis, Tunisia, over 31 years ago. Zambia claimed a comprehensive 4-0 victory, with goals from Elihah Litana (8’), Zeddy Saileti (30’), Kalusha Bwalya (47’) and Kenneth Malitoli (73’).
That defeat remains Mali’s joint-heaviest loss at an AFCON finals, alongside a 4-0 semi-final defeat to Morocco in 2004. Zambia’s win in 1994 also stands as their joint-biggest victory at the finals.
Overall, the two teams have met six times, with Zambia winning twice, Mali once, and three matches ending in draws.
Their most recent encounter was a friendly on September 23, 2022 in Bamako, which Mali won 1-0 thanks to an early goal from El Bilal Touré in the 6th minute.
Four of their meetings have been competitive fixtures: once at the AFCON, twice in FIFA World Cup qualifying, and once at the 2016 CAF African Nations Championship. Zambia remains unbeaten in those matches, recording two wins and two draws.
For both nations, this will be their first AFCON appearance in Morocco as hosts, with neither featuring when the Moroccans hosted the tournament in 1988.
Mali – key statistics
- Making their 15th appearance at the AFCON finals
- First qualified in 1972, with their next appearance coming in 1994
- Twelve of their AFCON appearances have come since 2002
- Missed only one of the last 13 tournaments (Egypt 2006)
- Runners-up in their debut tournament in 1972
- Finished fourth in 1994, 2002 and 2004
- Finished third in successive tournaments in 2012 and 2013
- This is their 10th successive AFCON finals appearance
- Fourth AFCON hosted in North Africa: fourth in 1994, third in 2004, Round of 16 exit in 2019
- Have progressed beyond the group stage in each of their last three tournaments
- Quarter-finalists at the most recent edition in Côte d’Ivoire
- Playing their 60th AFCON finals match
- Coach Tom Saintfiet is appearing at his third AFCON, having led Gambia in 2021 and 2023
- Saintfiet guided Gambia to the Round of 16 in 2021
- Mali has never lost their opening AFCON match
- Have won their opening game at the last three editions
- Biggest opening-match win: 4-1 vs Mauritania (2019)
- Only team to recover from a four-goal deficit at AFCON (vs Angola, 2010)
- On a 10-match unbeaten run in AFCON group games
- Last group-stage defeat: 1-0 vs Ghana (2017)
- Dorgeles Nene was top scorer in qualifying with three goals
- Conceded only one goal in six qualifiers, keeping five clean sheets
Zambia – key statistics
- AFCON champions in 2012; runners-up in 1974 and 1994
- Most successful Southern African nation at AFCON by appearances and matches played
- This will be their 70th AFCON finals match and 19th tournament appearance
- Finished runners-up at their debut tournament in 1974
- Qualified for back-to-back tournaments for the first time since 2006–2015
- Eliminated in the group stage at their last three appearances
- Last progressed beyond the group stage in 2012 when they won the title
- Winless in their last 10 AFCON finals matches
- Last open-play win came in the 2012 semi-final vs Ghana
- On a nine-match winless run in AFCON group games
- Strong history in North African-hosted tournaments
- Moses Sichone replaced Avram Grant as head coach
- Failed to win their opening game at their last three appearances
- Last opening-game win: 2-1 vs Senegal (2012)
- Finished top of qualifying Group G ahead of Côte d’Ivoire
- Kennedy Musonda Jr was top scorer with four goals
