Mali and Zambia open their AFCON 2025 campaigns at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, with both nations harbouring contrasting ambitions but equally hungry for three points in Group A.
Mali's Eternal Promise
The Eagles have been labelled perennial dark horses for a decade, yet silverware has remained elusive. Reaching their tenth consecutive AFCON, Mali have twice finished third (2012, 2013) and were denied a semi-final spot last year only by eventual champions Ivory Coast in extra time. Head coach Tom Saintfiet has assembled a squad brimming with European experience, and crucially, they remain unbeaten in all 13 previous AFCON openers.
A fitness concern looms over Yves Bissouma, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder who has not played a single minute this season due to an ankle injury. Should he be deemed unfit, Lassana Coulibaly and Amadou Haidara would form a formidable midfield axis, while Fenerbahce attacker Nene Dorgeles is expected to lead the line.
Zambia's Long Wait
The Chipolopolo stunned the world by winning AFCON 2012, defeating Ivory Coast on penalties in Libreville. Since then, however, they have not won a single AFCON match – eliminated in the group stage on three occasions and failing to qualify three times. Head coach Moses Sichone will lean heavily on Leicester City striker Patson Daka to shoulder the goalscoring burden.
Head-to-Head
Mali have won just one of the last six meetings between the sides, with Zambia recording two victories and three draws. Most notably, Zambia inflicted a humiliating 4-0 defeat on Mali at the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia.
Key Players
Mali: Kamory Doumbia has emerged as a talisman, with the Eagles suffering just one defeat in 11 matches when he finds the net. Watford's Mamadou Doumbia will look to add to his solitary international goal.
Zambia: Kennedy Musonda, who plays for Hapoel Ramat Gan in Israel, is expected to partner Daka in attack.
Prediction
Mali should have enough quality to secure all three points, but Zambia's unpredictable nature means this could be closer than expected. Mali 2-1 Zambia.