Tournament favorites Morocco will be hoping to book their spot in the knockout round of the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament, but face a tough match-day two test against Mali.
Ayomide Oguntimehin provides the lowdown for the December 26th clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Morocco vs Mali match preview
Morocco head into the clash hoping to record their 20th consecutive win this year and also a spot in the next round of the competition following their 2-0 win over Comoros in the opening match Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi were both on the scoresheet for the Atlas Lions as they clinched a crucial opening day win in front of their home fans. They will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Ivory Coast, who won the last edition of the tournament as host nations in 2023.
AFCON 2025. Morocco strike late to overcome Comoros in tournament opener
Mali, on the other hand, are hoping to record their first win at the 2025 African Cup of Nations when they face the host in their second group match. They looked on course for victory in their opening match against Zambia, but conceded a stoppage-time equalizer as the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The Eagles must avoid defeat in this clash to keep alive their chances of progressing to the next round.
Head-to-Head record (Last five meetings)
- 07.02.2021 – Mali 0-2 Morocco
- 05.09.2017 – Mali 0-0 Morocco
- 01.09.2017 – Morocco 6-0 Mali
- 06.03.2013 – Morocco 2-1 Mali
- 28.05.2006 – Mali 1-0 Morocco
Morocco have held the upper hand in this fixture in recent meetings, winning three of the last five and maintaining an unbeaten record in the last four meetings between both sides.
Mali are also yet to score in any of the last three encounters and have only won one of the last five.
Recent Form: Morocco
Morocco have enjoyed a very impressive form in 2025 and have recorded 19th consecutive victories at the senior level in all competitions.
The Atlas Lions have also not conceded in any of their last seven matches and could book their spot in the next round after beginning their campaign with a 2-0 win over Comoros on match-day one.
Recent Form: Mali
Mali have been inconsistent over the past few matches, recording only three wins in their lst eight matches, although they only suffered two defeats in this period.
The Eagles also failed to score three times during this run, but prevented their opponents from scoring four times.
AFCON 2025: Schedule, results and standings of the Africa Cup of Nations
Player to Watch: Mamadou Sangare (Mali)
The young midfielder Mamadou Sangare was the best player for the Eagles in their opening clash against Zambia, providing solidity and midfield and sniffing out the opponents attack.
The 23-year-old presence in the midfield will be very crucial in keeping the Moroccans at bay in the clash.
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Best Betting Odds
Over 1.5 Goals – 1.36 (via 1xBet)
Prediction
Both teams possess strong attacking quality capable of troubling the opposition’s defence, making this clash highly likely to produce multiple goals.
