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Five Guinea v Mali facts

By AFP
Cup of Nations Mali's Bakary Sako C celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations match against Ivory Coast in Malabo on January 24, 2015.  By Issouf Sanogo AFPFile
JAN 27, 2015 LISTEN
Mali's Bakary Sako (C) celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations match against Ivory Coast in Malabo on January 24, 2015. By Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)

Mongomo (Equatorial Guinea) (AFP) - Five facts on the Africa Cup of Nations Group D match between Guinea and Mali in Mongomo on Wednesday:

-- The previous two Cup of Nations matches between the countries resulted in victories for Mali by 2-1 in a 2004 quarter-final and 1-0 in a group game eight years later.

-- Mali have reached the knockout stage in six of eight previous Cup of Nations appearances, going furthest in 1972 when they finished runners-up behind Congo Brazzaville.

-- Guinea have been less successful, advancing from the first round only four times in 10 attempts. They came closest to glory when finishing second behind Morocco at the 1976 Cup of Nations.

-- Guinea have drawn 1-1 in 12 of 37 Cup of Nations matches and nine of the 42 games involving Mali also finished 1-1 -- the scoreline in all four Group D matches so far.

-- Guinea are ranked sixth and Mali 10th in a group composed entirely of top-10 African nations. The Guinean Syli Nationale (national elephant) are 10 places above the Malian Eagles in the world rankings.

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