AFCON 2019: Malian Eagles Have Mountain To Climb In Ivorian Elephants

The Malian national side
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Mali and Ivory Coast are today fighting for a place in the quarterfinals of this Total Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt 2019. The match is a renewal of rivalry between the Western African neighbors, whose previous AFCON encounters have always turned to the advantage of the Elephants. Now, the Eagles want to rewrite history.
In four previous AFCON head to head meetings, Côte d’Ivoire has won three times. In Tunisia 1994 (3-1) for third place, in Ghana 2008 (3-0) in group stage, and in Gabon 2012 (1 -0) in the semifinal. The two teams had a barren draw at Equatorial Guinea 2015, where the Elephants were crowned champions of Africa.
Mali has never hidden their ambitions before the start of the competition and, why not, be on the podium. But to achieve this, it will take Captain Abdoulaye Diaby and his teammates to get rid of this Ivorian team that is the obstacle to overcome in the knockout stages. This is the case for the Eagles to end this jinx against the Elephants.
The Eagles seem better prepared to defeat their rivals, and Coach Mohamed Magassouba did not fail to note that “football is not built by history.”
His opposite number Ibrahima Kamara, don’t want to be the one who will put an end to this Elephants’ series of invincibility against the Eagles in AFCON history.
And he has the human potential with players like Nicolas Pépé who has not yet exploded, Wilfried Zaha, Max Alain Gradel, Franck Késsié and many others to take up this challenge. A West African duel that promises much.
Previous AFCON head to head matches
10.04.1994 Tunis (Third Place) Cote d’Ivoire 3-1 Mali
29.01.2008 Accra (Group Stage) Cote d’Ivoire 3-0 Mali
08.02.2012 Libreville (Semifinal) Mali 0-1 Cote d’Ivoire
24.01.2015 Malabo (Group Stage) Cote d’Ivoire 1-1 Mali


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