All eyes will be on Grand de Stade Marrakech as Nigeria vs Mali battle for bragging rights on Tuesday March 26. Which of these teams will emerge victorious after 90 minutes?
Predicted Nigeria vs Mali lineups
These are our predicted Nigeria vs Mali lineups:
Nigeria
Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Benjamin Tanimu, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi.
Midfielders: Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi.
Strikers: Kelechi Iheanacho, Cyriel Dessers, Alex Iwobi.
Mali
Goalkeeper: Djigui Diarra.
Defenders: Modibo Sagnan, Falaye Sacko, Mamadou Fofana, Daouda Guindo.
Midfielders: Kamory Doumbia, Lassine Sinayoko, Amadou Haidara, Diadié Samassékou.
Strikers: Moussa Sylla, Ibrahim Sissoko
Nigeria vs Mali stats
- Nigeria have no losses in their last eight encounters with Mali (W5, D3).
- The last time Mali defeated the Super Eagles was in 1975.
- The first encounter between these teams took place in 1960, and their most recent clash was in 2016.
- Nigeria won six of their last seven matches.
- Mali won just two of their last five games.
- Interestingly, both teams lost just twice in the last 12 months.
- Nine of Nigeria's last 11 games went below the 2.5 goal threshold, five of Mali's last six matches too.
Nigeria vs Mali: 3 players to watch
These are three players to keep an eye out for on Tuesday:
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman peaked during the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023), as he scored three times, helping the Super Eagles reach the final.
While the Atlanta forward didn't start against Ghana, he scored just five minutes after coming off the bench.
Lookman has scored in back-to-back games, and will set his sights on extending that scoring streak to three matches.
Cyriel Dessers
Cyriel Dessers impressed in his first appearance for the Super Eagles since November 2022. He opened the scoring in Nigeria's Jollof Derby with Ghana's Black Stars, but could've scored more if he had been more clinical.
In the absence of Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Dessers will likely get the nod to start against Mali. He has done fairly well in recent months, scoring five times in his last nine appearances for club and country.
It should be worth keeping an eye out for the Rangers forward.
Lassine Sinayoko
Although Auxerre's Lassine Sinayoko is deployed as a winger by his club, he tends to take the centre-forward role when he plays for Mali.
The 24-year-old was his country's top scorer at the AFCON with three goals. He has been in sensational form for the Eagles, scoring four times in his last six appearances for country.
However, Sinayoko blanked in his last four matches, so he'll look to get back to scoring ways on Tuesday.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 month ago
