AFCON 2021 PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS: Mali & Tunisia prepare for titanic clash
Group F at AFCON 2021 gets underway with Mali and Tunisia battling it out in their campaign opener at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium in the Southwest of Cameroon.
The two sides head into the match on familiar terms as far as the Africa Cup of Nations is concerned, having also shared a group in the last showpiece back in 2019. On that occasion, they played out to a 1-1 draw.
For Tunisia, they’ll be hoping that this AFCON campaign can mirror their run back in 2004 which saw them lifting the trophy for their first and only time in their history.
Mali have never won the African Cup of Nations, but were runners up all the way back in 1972. They do have some exciting talents on offer this time around though with all eyes on midfielder Amadou Haidara. The 23-year-old currently plays in the Bundesliga where he is considered one of the major young talents at RB Leipzig who sit in 9th place on the German log.
Despite the star-studded lineup in the team from West Africa, Tunisia are still the highest ranked side in the group with the current FIFA world ranking of no. 30, making them the no. 4 team on the continent.
Mali and Tunisia would be fighting it out for the top spot in Group F alongside Mauritania and Gambia.
