Will the hosts have problems? Mali vs Mozambique Prediction
This Friday in Bamako, Mali will face Mozambique in the first round of AFCON qualification. Here's the expert prediction from the Dailysports team.
Mali
The Mali national team performed well at the Africa Cup of Nations last winter. Drawn in a group with Tunisia, Namibia, and South Africa, Mali managed to avoid defeat, securing first place in the group thanks to an opening victory over Tunisia. In the first round of the playoffs, Mali defeated Burkina Faso 2:1.
However, in the quarterfinals, they faced a tough Côte d'Ivoire side. After a 1:1 draw in regular time, the "Elephants" advanced in a penalty shootout. In the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, Mali has only accumulated five points from four matches, placing them fourth in their group.
Mozambique
The "Red and Blacks" ended a 14-year drought by qualifying for the AFCON last winter. Placed in a group with Egypt, Cape Verde, and Ghana, Mozambique couldn't spring any major surprises but did put up a fight. In the first match, they drew 2:2 with Egypt but then suffered a heavy 3:0 defeat against Cape Verde.
In their third game, Mozambique managed another draw, this time with Ghana, but it wasn't enough to progress to the knockout stages. In World Cup qualifying, Mozambique sits second in their group, trailing Algeria only on goal difference, with their only loss coming against the Algerians.
Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History
- The last time these teams met was in January 2014, when Mali won 2:1.
- This summer, Mozambique finished third in the COSAFA Cup.
- Only one of Mali's last five matches has seen over 2.5 goals.
Mali vs Mozambique Prediction
Bookmakers favor the home team, with Mali's victory priced at 2.01. We believe Mali has the potential to win this match.
