Unbeaten Mali host rivals Ghana at the Stade 26 Mars in what should be an intriguing World Cup qualification fixture on Thursday, 6 June.
Eric Chelle’s Mali are favourites to harness home advantage against a Ghana side that has recorded only one victory in ten attempts in all competitions. Can Mali secure their fourth win in five games?
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Mali vs Ghana prediction: Mali in better form
Key Stats
- Ghana have failed to win nine of their last ten games in all competitions.
- Mali have tasted defeat only once in their last 14 matches.
- Mali managed to score twice in three of their last four fixtures.
- 100% of Ghana’s last five games have featured over 2.5 goals.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Mali are favourites to prevail
- HOME: 1/2 (1.50) – 66.7%
- DRAW: 11/4 (3.75) – 26.7%
- AWAY: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
You can find all of our latest expert predictions for this week’s matches on our football betting tips page.
Last five H2Hs: Recent encounters have been rare
International Match 09/10/20
Ghana
Mali
Africa Cup of Nations 21/01/17
Ghana
Mali
International Match 31/03/15
Ghana
Mali
Mali eased to a 3-0 win over Ghana when the teams last met, however, that last encounter came all the way back in 2020. Ghana have won only one of their last four meetings with Mali overall since 2013.
Mali preview: Bissouma among the absentees
Moussa Doumbia, Mouss Djenepo, Kalifa Coulifably, Alassane Plea, Adama Traore, Ibrahima Kone, Mohamed Camara, Yves Bissouma, Aliou Dieng, Massadio Haidara and Ibrahim Mounkoro are among the high-profile players absent from the current Mali squad.
Bourama Kone, Abdoulaye Diaby, Cheick Oumar Konate, Mahamadou Doumbia, Ibrahim Sissoko, Moussa Sylla and Ibrahim Diarra are all uncapped and will be hoping to represent Mali for the first time this week.
Predicted lineup: Samassa (GK), H. Traore, Kouyate, Sagnan, Guindo, Coulibaly, Samessekou, Haidara, E. Toure, Sinayoko, Dorgeles
Africa - World Cup Qualifying 24/03/25
D
Central African Rep
0
Mali
0
Africa - World Cup Qualifying 20/03/25
W
Comoros
0
Mali
3
Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 19/11/24
W
Eswatini
0
Mali
6
Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 15/11/24
W
Mozambique
0
Mali
1
Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 15/10/24
D
Guinea-Bissau
0
Mali
0
Ghana preview: Black Stars have best players available
Ghana lost their last qualification test against Comoros and the Black Stars will be determined to get their campaign back on track in Mali. Ghana will be without Baba Rahman, Thomas Partey, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Edmund Addo and Joseph Aidoo ahead of this week's tussles.
There are no uncapped players in Otto Addo's squad. Premier League players Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo have all been included and should be ready to claim positions in the XI.
Predicted lineup: Ofori (GK), Odoi, Opoku, Adams, Mensah, Williams, Baba, Abdul Samed, Semenyo, J. Ayew, Kudus
Africa - World Cup Qualifying 24/03/25
W
Madagascar
0
Ghana
3
Africa - World Cup Qualifying 21/03/25
W
Chad
0
Ghana
5
African Nations C'ship Qualifying 28/12/24
L
Nigeria
3
Ghana
1
Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 18/11/24
L
Niger
2
Ghana
1
Africa Cup of Nations Qualification 15/11/24
D
Angola
1
Ghana
1
Player to watch – El Bilal Touré
El Bilal Touré is the leading marksman in the current Mail squad, having netted seven times in 17 appearances for his country.
The 22-year-old has been tipped to lead the Malians from the front over the next decade and he looks like a potential match winner again this week against Ghana.
The Atalanta starlet could shine again
Touré has been making waves at club level with Atalanta this season and while he hasn’t quite established himself as a first-team staple with La Dea, the flying forward is expected to have a more prominent role in Bergamo soon.
The youngster started just three times in all competitions for Atalanta in 2023/24, though he did manage to score three goals and he saw some action in the club’s Europa League Final win over Bayer Leverkusen last month.