AFCON 2023: Mali vs Burkina Faso: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Les Aigles will not want to suffer another Round of 16 exit

The Mali national football team took part in the Group E of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast. With a win and two draws from three group fixtures, Les Aigles finished top of their group. For the last two times, they have exited AFCON at the Round of 16 stage.

The country in West Africa, Burkina Faso, were clubbed alongside Angola, Mauritania and 2019 AFCON winners, Algeria in Group D. After tasting all three narratives of a football game – win, draw and defeat, they managed to finish second and qualify for the Round of 16.

Kick-Off:

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 at 5:00 PM UK (10:30 PM IST)

Location: Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium

Form

Mali (in all competitions): D-D-W-W-D

Burkina Faso (in all competitions): L-D-W-W-L

Players to Watch

Lassine Sinayoko (Mali)

Lassine Sinayoko plays for AJ Auxerre in Ligue 2 at club level. The 24-year-old was one of the many call-ups for 2023 AFCON from the French football leagues. Sinayoko scored two out of the total three goals in the group stages for Mali.

Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)

Bertrand Traore is a pretty big name in the Burkina Faso national football team. As the player plays in the Premier League for Aston Villa, Traoré has vast experience in top-flight football games. Although the winger didn’t trouble Angola on matchday 3 of the group games, expect the 28-year-old to do some dancing along the wings in this one.

Match Facts

• The Stallions finished runners up in Group D while Mali topped their Group E to reach the Round of 16
• Les Aigles have failed to progress further than the Round of 16 for the past two occasions
• The winner will face either the host nation, Ivory Coast or defending champions Senegal in the quarter-finals

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Injury & Team News

Yves Bissouma started last time out against Namibia and is expected to start once again. In the group stages, Éric Chelle’s men scored three goals in total. Out of those three, two were scored by Lassine Sinayoko. Expect Sinayoko to be part of the attacking force once again. The rest of the squad is also fit and available.

Mohamed Konate and Ibrahim Toure will be available for this Round of 16 fixture. Also, the rest Burkina Faso squad has no fresh injury concerns at the moment.

Head to Head

Total Matches – 10

Mali wins – 8

Burkina Faso wins – 1

Draws – 1

Predicted Lineup

Mali predicted lineup (4-3-1-2):

Diarra (GK); Traore, Kouyate, Niakate, Sacko; Dieng, Bissouma, Haidara; Doumbia; Sinayoko, Koita

Burkina Faso predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Koffi (GK); Kabore, Dayo, Tapsoda, Yago; Guira, Toure; Traoré, Ki, Badolo; Konate

Match Prediction for Mali vs Burkina Faso

Although the Mali national football team failed to get past the Round of 16 for the last two times, expect a change this time out. The team is relatively strong on paper for their opponents which can be seen by their dominant group performance. Relying on that gives Les Aigles a fair edge to progress and reach the quarter-finals.

Prediction: Mali 1-0 Burkina Faso

Telecast for Mali vs Burkina Faso

India – FanCode

UK – Sky Sports

US – beIN Sports

Nigeria – NTA

AFCON 2023 Worldwide Broadcast Details: Click here

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