The Tunisian national team awaits a challenge in the quarter-finals of the African Championship held in Morocco, when it faces its Malian counterpart in an anticipated match at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
This is the fifth match between Mali and Tunisia in the African Cup of Nations, and Mali did not lose in the previous four matches, as it won two matches and lost two.
It will be Tunisia's third round of 16 match at the Africa Cup of Nations, despite having qualified on both occasions before that, winning on penalties over Ghana in 2019 (5-4, after a 1-1 draw) and beating Nigeria 1-0 in 2021.
Mali is looking forward to qualifying from the round of 16 in two consecutive editions of the African Cup of Nations, after defeating Burkina Faso in this round in 2023 (2-1). She had been eliminated on her first two round of 16 appearances in the competition before that, failing to score on both occasions (0-1 vs. Côte d'Ivoire in 2019 and 0-0 vs. Equatorial Guinea in 2021 - losing 6-5 on penalties).
Tunisia scored 60% of its shots on target at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and its next goal in the tournament will equal the most it has scored in a single edition since 2008.
Mali scored only two goals from 33 shots in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, compared to its total expected goals, and has scored two goals less than its expected goals in the tournament so far.
Hannibal Mejbri leads all Tunisian players in assists (2), chances created (6), successful dribbles (9), and advanced runs with the ball (30) in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mamadou Sangari, the Malian player, won 75% of his duels in the current tournament, among players who participated in the same number in one edition (+40). This is the highest success rate in duels for any midfielder in the competition in the records since 2010.
