Everything you need to know ahead of Mali and Senegal’s quarter-final clash in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mali and Senegal are set to face off in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Friday, 9 January 2026.
The fixture pits two of West Africa’s top sides against each other, with both eyeing a place in the semi-finals in Tangier.
Senegal come into the tie as favourites, having gone 15 AFCON matches without defeat. In contrast, Mali have relied on defensive discipline and resilience to navigate a testing path through the tournament.
Game information
The match will be played at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier, Morocco. Officially known as Ibn Batouta Stadium, the venue holds around 65,000 fans and has been a key host site throughout AFCON 2025–26.
Situated near Morocco’s northern coast, the stadium has welcomed several group and knockout games this year, providing a modern pitch and vibrant fan atmosphere for the quarter-final showdown.
Kick-off time
The match is scheduled to begin at 5 PM local time in Tangier (GMT+1), which is 4 PM in the UK and 11 AM Eastern Time in the US.
Weather conditions are expected to be mild, with temperatures around 14°C, light north-westerly winds, and partly cloudy skies.
Where to watch
Coverage will be available on several major outlets:
- Mali: ORTM (Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision du Mali)
- Senegal: RTS 1 (Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise)
- UK: Sky Sports Football and BBC iPlayer (selected coverage)
- US: beIN Sports and FuboTV (streaming available)
International viewers can also access the game via official CAF digital platforms or licensed streaming services, depending on their region.
Team news
Mali: The Eagles will be without defender Woyo Coulibaly, suspended after his red card against Tunisia in the Round of 16. Midfielder Lassana Coulibaly is a doubt with a minor injury.
However, key players Yves Bissouma and Lassine Sinayoko are both set to feature after strong performances in the previous round.
Senegal: The Lions of Teranga have no injury concerns. Coach Pape Thiaw has a full squad to choose from, including stars Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye, and Nicolas Jackson.
Senegal have already scored ten goals in four matches, underlining their attacking threat.
Head-to-head records
Senegal have had the better of Mali in recent meetings, unbeaten in their last ten encounters with Mali (six wins, four draws).
- 2004 AFCON – Mali 1–1 Senegal
- 2019 Friendly – Senegal 2–1 Mali
- 2021 Friendly – Senegal 1–0 Mali
- 2023 CHAN – Senegal 3–0 Mali
- 2025 Friendly – Senegal 1–1 Mali
While past matchups have often been close, Senegal’s experience and current form are likely to give them the upper hand again.
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