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Let’s dive a bit deeper into those teams.
The big news from a Malian perspective is the absence of key midfielder Amadou Haidara, who is suspended after being sent off late in their goalless draw with Comoros for a dangerous tackle. Aliou Dieng comes in to partner Yves Bissouma in the engine room.
Tunisian fans were concerned about the fitness of Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane at the back after he appeared to pick up a knee injury in their defeat to Nigeria. And he has only been deemed fit enough to make the bench. Meanwhile the experienced Ferjani Sassi comes into the frontline, with Copenhagen’s Elias Achouri making way.
As well as Bissouma, other names familiar to UK viewers will be Tunisia’s right-back Yan Valery, now of Sheffield Wednesday and formerly Southampton, and Burnley’s volatile midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.
Team news
Mali: Diarra; W.Coulibaly, Diaby, O.Camara; Bissouma, Dieng; Sangare, L.Coulibaly, Doumbia; Sinayoko.
Subs: Diaware, H.Traoré, Dorgeles, Bilal Touré. Mo.Camara, Doucoure, Ma.Camara, Fofana, M.Doumbia, K.Doumbia, Samassa, Sissoko, Diakite, Gassama.
Tunisia: Dahmen; Valery, Talbi, Bronn, Abdi; Skhiri, Mejbri, Gharbi; Sassi, Mahmood, Mastouri.
Subs: Farhati, Meriah, Ben Romdhane, Achouri, Saad, Maaloul, Ben Ali, Ghandri, Chaouat, Ben Ounes, Ben Said, Sliti, Arous, Tounekti, Jaziri.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to another of our 2025 AFCON (now being played in 2026) minute-by-minute live blogs. We’re into a new year and a new phase of the tournament, as the last-16 begins. Well, it begun earlier on when Sengal played Sudan but Mali v Tunisia is the focus of this evening’s coverage.
Neither side ripped it up in the group stages, both finishing second in their respective groups with just one victory from their collective six games – that was a 3-1 win for Tunisia in their opener against Uganda. Having said that, Mali drew all three of their group games so the teams have only lost once between them too – Tunisia’s 3-2 reverse to Nigeria – one of the tournament favourites.
After so many drawn games we might expect another tight contest at Mohammed V Stadium tonight… but it’s AFCON so you never quite know. We’re building towards a 7pm kick-off (GMT), which is 8pm local time in Casablanca. Let’s go!
