Mali vs Tunisia: Winless Eagles Plot Tunisia Upset in AFCON Round of 16
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Mali: Winless but still standing
Of the 16 teams that progressed beyond the group stages, Mali are the only nation that managed to do so without winning a single game in the group stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Eagles were placed in Group A alongside Morocco, Comoros, and Zambia. From the three games, they garnered three points. They held Zambia and Morocco to two successive 1-1 draws before sharing the spoils in an attritional goalless draw against Comoros.
Against all odds, the West African nation managed to secure the second spot in Group A and ensured progression to a fourth consecutive knockout AFCON appearance.
Having lost one of their last eight matches at this tournament, can the winless Mali get their first win? Find out what our experts have to say in our Mali vs Tunisia prediction for more insights on the match.
Tom Saintfiet's charges, however, are winless in their last four AFCON matches. During this period, three draws and a solitary defeat were recorded. The last time they secured a win was in the previous edition, outplaying Burkina Faso 2-1 in the Round of 16.
Mali AFCON facts:
- Mali have won 21 of their last 62 AFCON matches.
- Mali are competing in the Round of 16 for the second consecutive time.
- Mali are unbeaten in their last four AFCON matches against Tunisia.
Tunisia: The Eagles of Carthage seek redemption
Tunisia was one of two teams, along with table-toppers Nigeria, to secure the top two spots for automatic progression to the knockout stages before the ball was even kicked. As expected, they performed exactly as the AFCON betting odds predicted and finished second in Group C.
Despite progressing from the group stages for the 14th time and reaching the Round of 16 after failing to do so in the 2023 edition, head coach Sami Trabelsi feels as if his side failed to meet expectations at this tournament.
Judging by Tunisia's performance in the group stages, Trabelsi's take on this is well-founded. The Eagles of Carthage began the tournament with a commanding 3-1 win over Uganda. However, they were unable to capitalise on that momentum on matchday two, dropping three points in a narrow 3-2 defeat against Nigeria. After that, points were shared in a drab 1-1 draw against Tanzania despite being clear favourites to win that match.
The Eagles of Carthage have not had it easy in this fixture, especially at AFCON. They have yet to win a game against Mali in their last four meetings, recording two draws and two losses. All matches were contested in the group stages. Their last meeting was a 1-1 draw in the 2023 edition.
Not one to dwell on the past, their primary goal heading here is to secure an important win that could see them progress to the quarter-finals in what will be their 12th appearance.
Tunisia AFCON facts:
- Success here could see Tunisia reach the quarter-finals in six of their last eight AFCON appearances.
- Tunisia have avoided defeat in their last two matches in the Round of the 16.
- Tunisia failed to keep a clean sheet in each of three group stage games.