In the Africa Cup of Nations Group E opening round, Mali takes on South Africa. Mali’s impressive qualification from Group G with 15 points underlines their strong form, currently boasting an eight-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

In their recent friendly against Guinea Bissau, Mali secured a resounding 6-2 victory, demonstrating their attacking prowess. Despite several key players missing due to injuries, Mali still possesses a formidable squad.

On the flip side, South Africa enters the tournament after a goalless draw against Lesotho in their preparations.

Their recent record is less convincing, with only one win in their last five outings across all competitions.

The teams last met in a 2019 friendly where South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. However, Mali’s last win against South Africa dates back to 2013.

Expect an entertaining match with goals on both sides, given Mali’s attacking strength and South Africa’s recent defensive struggles. Despite historical setbacks, Mali is considered the favorite to secure a positive result in this encounter based on their current form and offensive capabilities.

The match prediction for the football match between Mali and South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations uses several algorithms including team form comparison, head-to-head (h2h), and other important statistics.

We use these advanced statistical models in combination with the most recent news and expert opinions to analyze data and come up with the most accurate predictions possible.