2021 AFCON: Tunisia v Mali – Journey starts for both Eagles

It would be a clash of “Eagles” when Tunisia and Mali lock horns as Group F of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations kick-off on Wednesday.

Be it Carthage Eagles, as Tunisia are fondly known, or “Les Aigles” (The Eagles) as Mali are nicknamed, both sides will try to fly higher as they start their campaign towards African football Holy Grail.

This will be the second successive meeting between both sides, after playing for a 1-1 draw in Egypt 2019 edition.

Match Card

• Date: 12 January 2022
• Time: 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT)
• Stadium: Limbe Omnisports, Limbe
• Group: F

Match: Tunisia v Mali

• Tunisia – Carthage Eagles’ time to shine

Carthage Eagles made it to their 15th consecutive AFCON finals, the longest streak between all participating teams. And they are eyeing their second title, eighteen years after doing that at home in 2004.

Having a team that includes both experience in the form of Youssef Msakni, Ali Maaloul, Wahbi Khazri and youngsters like Karim Rekik and Hannibal Mjebri, the Tunisians are eyeing something special this time round.

What they said

• Mondher Kebaier (Coach, Tunisia)

“It would be a hotly contested competition. It is very important to start the competition on a good note. We are playing against a good team in Mali, and we are going to give our best. We will stick to our game and surely we are eyeing the trophy.”

• Montasser Talbi (defender, Tunisia)

“It is an honour for us to represent 12 million Tunisians who all have the same dream. We will take it one game at a time. It’s about the team, not individuals.”

• Mali – Eagles back to where they soared higher

It was back in 1972, and in Cameroon that the Eagles of Mali soared higher. Mali’s best ever AFCON feat was when they reached the final fifty years ago in Cameroon before losing to Congo.

This time round, Coach Mohamed Magassouba’s men are seeking to repeat that feat at least, and why not to go a step further for what would be their first-ever AFCON title.

To do that, Magassouba will look at the likes of Ibrahima Kone, Diadié Samassékou and Adama Noss Traoré who excelled with the youth ranks of the Eagles.

What they said

• Mohamed Magassouba (Coach, Mali)

“We are the youngest team in the competition, a team full of enthusiasm that will do everything to shine in this competition. Mali is a team with strong ambitions, and our target is to lift the cup on February 6th. We will play against an experienced Tunisian team, which has strong ambitions, so we will be very careful ”

• Hamari Traoré (Captain, Mali)

“We are enthusiastic and ready to play against Tunisia. We are not going to underestimate or overestimate them. We are humble and modest but we want to win this competition and offer it to our people who have suffered so much. Tunisia is a very tactical, very compact team, but it is up to us to be patient and surprise them.