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Mali vs Ivory Coast Prediction & Betting tips
The atmosphere is likely to be over at the 2019 African Cup of Nations. Rarely, more than 10,000 spectators came to the stadiums, if not just the host from Egypt on the lawn had. The Pharaohs have already been eliminated in the last sixteen. In addition, with Cameroon, the defending champion is no longer racing with him. That could be a circumstance that is not conducive to the mood in Egypt for the Africa Cup. Nevertheless, it goes on, of course. On Monday, the last knockout stages will be played. Among other things, it comes once again to a duel among neighbors. Mali and the Ivory Coast will fight for a slot in the next round.
But after two of the favorites are eliminated, that does not mean that the way to the title for other big nations would be free. The winner of this round of 16 matches Algeria or Guinea in the next round. Both teams are likely to be big chunks. In the duel between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, the forecast in the run-up is slightly towards the elephants. But we also consider this encounter completely open. The Africa Cup has already shown that favorite roles do not mean much in this tournament. By the same token, that means that things should continue to be very exciting.
The elephants triumphed at the 2015 Africa Cup but may not be the big team of recent years. Mali was in the semi-finals in two of the last four editions. The big hit is the Eagles but not yet succeeded. This year, they are more concerned about team unity, but still have some interesting players in their ranks. We are expecting a very close match and could imagine that in the duel between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire a tip on an extra time, called a draw after 90 minutes, could be quite successful. The kick-off for the round of 16 at the African Cup between Mali and the Ivory Coast in the New Suez Stadium will take place on 08.07.2019 at 17:00.
Mali:
Although the team from Mali is not spectacular, it has managed to accommodate most players in good to very good European leagues. Many Malians have also been trained in France. That speaks for a certain quality in this team. In Germany one knows above all Amadau Haidara of RB Leipzig. With Sekou Koita and Diadie Samassekou are also two players at RB Salzburg under contract. The star of the team is at the moment but Moussa Marega from FC Porto.
In the group stage, the Eagles have no nakedness. Against Mauritania and Angola there were the expected victories and also the draw against Tunisia was no surprise. With that, Mali has secured first place in Group E, and that very confidently. So Mali seems to be doing well in the tournament and is unbeaten in the Africa Cup so far. That could mean that in the duel between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, we would not treat the odds for a victory of the elephants either.
In the last group match against Angola, the team of Mohamed Magassouba had already reached a draw to secure the quarter-finals. Therefore, a tough game developed. Amadou Haidara made it 1-0 for the Malians just before half-time. It should remain until the final whistle. The coach could even afford to renounce over long stretches on some regular players, including Moussa Marega and captain Abdoulay Diaby. The latter sees in the duel against the elephants the chance to end a long negative series against the neighbors.
The three appearances at the African Cup in Egypt at least hope that this mission will be completed successfully. Personnelly we expect numerous changes in the eagles. In addition to Marega and Diaby, for example, Mamadou Fofana or Diadie Samassekou may be back in the starting eleven. As it looks, Coach Mohamed Magassouba has all his players available, which suggests that Mali will certainly not go as a great outsider in this round of 16.
Ivory Coast:
That was not really convincing, which has been offered by the Ivory Coast at the African Cup so far. Of course, the big stars are missing around Didier Drogba or the Toure brothers, but the elephants still have some top players in their ranks, which promise a high quality. However, many players are still not living up to their claims in Egypt. This is especially true for the much sought-after Nicholas Pepe from OSC Lille, who is said to be on the shopping list at Bayern Munich, among others.
With a feat in the last group match against Namibia, it was enough for second place in the group. The Ivory Coast has won three of the last four games. Only against Morocco, the team of Ibrahima Kamara suffered a defeat. Which trend before the duel between Mali and the Ivory Coast can serve as a prognosis, is not quite clear from the last appearances of the elephants. At least the 2015 winner was there when it mattered.
After three points from two games was before the last group match against Namibia namely the departure in the room. But that was not an issue at an early stage, because the Ivory Coast showed their best performance at the African Cup of Nations 2019. Shortly before the break, Max Gradel scored the redeeming 1: 0. Directly after the change, Serey Die increased to 2: 0. It was tight, as Namibia shortened in the 71th minute, but Wilfred Zaha and Maxwel Cornet brought the result with their goals on the befitting height of 4: 1. Nevertheless, Ibrahima Kamara was not satisfied with the group stage.
Especially with the offensive players Nicholas Pepe, Jean Michael Seri or Jonathan Kodjia the coach quarreled and expects from them now a reaction in training and in the second round against Mali, and it would come as no surprise, if all three would only find themselves on the bench again. Certainly not included is full-back Serge Aurier, who can only keep his fingers crossed for his comrades by injury.
Mali vs Ivory Coast head to head matches
06.10.17 WC Mali Ivory Coast 0 : 0
08.10.16 WC Ivory Coast Mali 3 : 1
04.02.16 ANC Mali Ivory Coast 1 : 0
24.01.15 ACN Ivory Coast Mali 1 : 1
08.02.12 ACN Mali Ivory Coast 0 : 1