Comoros v Mali preview
Comoros v Mali team news
Mali are aiming to stay in the two automatic qualification positions for the last 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when Tom Saintfiet’s side play their Group A decider against Comoros in Casablanca on Monday.
Lassine Sinayoko’s penalty earned the Eagles a notable draw against Morocco in their second match of the finals on Tuesday, ending the host nation and tournament favourites’ record 19-match winning run in international football.
“It won’t be easy,” said Saintfiet, expressing pride in his squad and suggesting Mali should have had a late penalty against Morocco and had enough chances to beat Zambia in their opening 1-1 draw.
“Comoros are a good team but I have confidence in my players. We played them twice this year in World Cup qualifiers and won both 3-0, but every game is different. We know we have to win and do everything for a victory.”
Comoros performed respectably in their 2-0 defeat to Morocco in the opening match of the tournament and shared the only 0-0 of the finals so far with Zambia in their second game, having a goal by striker Myziane Maolida ruled out for a foul.
“Mali are an extremely physical team,” said coach Stefano Cusin. “You have to be physically strong… if we are up to the task physically, which we lacked in the qualifiers, we have the means to put them in difficulty and key players who can put them in danger.
“I know the Malian mentality, I know the players individually. They have a strong state of mind and they have technical quality and physical intensity.”
Comoros must win to go through, while a draw would likely put Mali in a strong position to qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams from the six groups.
Comoros v Mali: AFCON team news
Comoros made four like-for-like changes against Zambia, replacing defender Yannis Kari, midfielders Bendjaloud Youssouf and Iyad Mohamed and winger Faiz Selamani with Said Bakari, Yacine Bourhane, Akim Abdallah and Maolida.
Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor saved a penalty as part of an impressive display on his AFCON finals debut against Morocco.
Midfielder Aliou Dieng, who captained Mali against Zambia, was one of eight players in the squad to be booked against Morocco, leading Saintfiet to suggest that avoiding potential suspensions will shape his team selection against Comoros.
Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma missed the first game through injury but started against Morocco, playing for 57 minutes.
Auxerre’s Sinayoko also scored against Chipolopolo, who denied Mali victory through a 92nd-minute equaliser.
Comoros v Mali: AFCON 2025 predicted line-ups
Comoros starting XI: Yannick Pandorl, Kenan Toibibou, Ahmed Soilihi, Ismael Boura, Said Bakari, Yacine Bourhane, Zaydou Youssouf, Akim Abdallah, Myziane Maolida, Youssouf M’Changama, Rafiki Said
Mali starting XI: Djigui Diarra, Woyo Coulibaly, Abdoulaye Diaby, Ousmane Camara, Nathan Gassama, Mamadou Sangare, Lassana Coulibaly, Aliou Dieng, Mahamadou Doumbia, Yves Bissouma, Lassine Sinayoko
How to watch Comoros v Mali: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Monday is at 19:00 GMT (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channel. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.
Comoros v Mali: AFCON 2025 stats
Comoros’ clean sheet against Zambia was their first AFCON shut-out in their fifth match at the finals
Their three-matches winless AFCON run is their longest sequence without victory at the tournament
A 3–2 win over Ghana sent them to the last 16 in their only previous third group-stage match in 2021
For a second edition in a row, Comoros have failed to score in their opening two matches. In 2021, they lost 1–0 and 2–0 against Gabon and Morocco
The game against Zambia marked the first time in six AFCON matches that Comoros did not face a shot on target.
Mali’s total of 14 draws from their 27 AFCON matches since the 2013 edition (W8 L5) is the second-highest total behind DR Congo
They are now 12 AFCON group matches unbeaten (W5 D7), last losing such a game in their second match of the 2017 tournament against Ghana
A 0–0 draw against Namibia in their final group game in 2023 is the only time when Mali have failed to score in just one of their last seven AFCON matches
They have not lost their final group match in their last eight AFCON participations (W4 D4) and have only lost such a game twice: 1–0 against DR Congo in 1994 and 3–0 against Ivory Coast in 2008
Having drawn all three of their group matches in 2015, Mali were eliminated by the drawing of lots, finishing level on three points with Guinea on all tie-breaking criteria
