Mali v Senegal: Confirmed line-ups for AFCON quarter-final with Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr dropped
Senegal face Mali in the AFCON quarter-finals this afternoon. Get all the team news here...
Mali advanced to an AFCON quarter-final against Senegal despite not winning a game in normal time during their stay in Morocco.
Three group stage draws were followed by a penalty shoot-out victory over Tunisia on Saturday. Even then they had to do it the hard way, playing for 64 minutes of normal time, and then the additional 30 minutes, with just 10 men following the dismissal of defender Woyo Coulibaly.
For Tom Saintfiet’s men to progress, they will need to raise their performance levels significantly against a Senegal team that continues to look like a genuine contender.
Saintfiet said: “We haven’t created a lot of goalscoring opportunities, but we’ve played with discipline and we won’t be changing much around our approach. We’ve got players with good ability and a very good mentality.”
Seven points in the group stage saw Senegal cruise through to the last 16 where Sudan were dismissed 3-1. They have the firepower to cause problems for any team in world football.
Saintfiet added: “The eight teams who have qualified for the quarters are all the big footballing countries in Africa but I think they [Senegal] are playing the best.
“The only team they’ve lost to over the last years was Brazil, they even beat England. It’s a stable team but also very strong who score easily, who don’t give up much and are very dangerous.
“But we are also a good team. We haven’t lost at this tournament, and we played well against Morocco and Tunisia, two countries who qualified for the World Cup.”
Table of Contents
MALI TEAM NEWS
Woyo Coulibaly is suspended for Mali while Lassana Coulibaly has recovered from a knock that was expected to keep him out.
Mali: Diarra; Hamari Traoré, Camara, Diaby, Gassama; Haidara, Bissouma, Coulibaly, Dieng, Sangaré; Sinayoko
SENEGAL TEAM NEWS
Nicolas Jackson was surprisingly dropped to the bench with Habib Diallo starting in attack. Ismaila Sarr was also left out with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye coming in.
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly is back from a ban and comes straight back into the starting XI.
Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Niakhite, Koulibaly, Diouf; I Gueye, P Gueye, Diarra; Ndiaye, Mane, Diallo
How to watch Mali v Senegal: TV and online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 4pm UK time. 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.
Stats for Mali v Senegal
- Mali and Senegal have met 40 times previously. Senegal lead the head-to-head with 19 wins to Mali’s eight, while 13 matches have ended in draws
- Senegal are unbeaten in their last 13 matches against Mali, recording six wins and seven draws
- Mali’s last victory over Senegal came in a friendly match in 1997, a 2-1 win in Dakar