Our prediction for this Africa Cup of Nations 2024 match:
Tunisia
Match Time & Date:
12/01/2022
08:00 AM
Prediction: 1-1
Mali
Tunisia and Mali go head to head at Limbe Stadium in what is expected to be a close Group F clash. Tunisia did well to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals, but they have big ambitions for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations campaign as well. Man Utd rising star Hannibal Mejbri, who impressed at the Arab Cup, is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line, as well as experienced captain Wahbi Khazri.
The Malians, on the other hand, proved their worth in the World Cup qualifiers, with the team winning Group E without any difficulties. Les Aigles are eyeing their fifth consecutive win in all competitions, but beating Tunisia at Limbe Stadium is easier said than done. A close match is on the cards in Limbe, and we are tempted to put our money on draw. A man to watch in the away side will be Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Highlighted Player (Ellyes Skhiri):
After spending his youth career at Montpellier, Ellyes Skhiri continued playing for la Paillade at senior level. In 2019 he moved to Bundesliga side Koln, signing a four-year contract with the Billy Goats. Shkiri was born in Lunel, France on May 10, 1995, but he has a dual citizenship as his parents are of Tunisia descent.
The Koln midfielder made debut with the Tunisian national team in a 1-0 win over Iran on March 23, 2018 and he represented Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia later that year. Ellyes Skhiri’s main position is defensive midfielder, but he is capable of producing fine performances at both right and centre back.
His preferred foot is right and he has a contract with Koln until June 30, 2026. The Tunisia international made his Bundesliga debut on August 17, 2019 in a 2-1 loss to Wolfsburg and he scored his first ever goal in the German top flight in a 2-1 win over Freiburg on August 31, 2019.
Highlighted Team (Mali):
Mali are an African football team that have never participated at the World Cup finals. Les Aigles (the Eagles), though, did well to make it to the 1972 African Cup of Nations final, with the team facing Congo in the title game.
Mali suffered a 3-2 loss to Pierre Lechantre’s men back then, but that is regarded as the team’s biggest success. The Malian national football team play their home games in yellow shirts and yellow shorts, while the colour of the team’s away kit is white. Stade du 26 Mars is regarded as the home stadium of Mali and the capacity of the venue is 60,000. Les Aigles won the Amilcar Cabral Cup on three occasions (1989, 1997 and 2007) and they made it to the final of the tournament four times.
Frederic Kanoute is the most notable footballer who played for the Malian national team and the former Sevilla and Tottenham attacker scored 23 goals in 39 appearances for the Eagles.
