AFCON 2015 Match Preview: Mali v Cameroon

Mali v Cameroon (Group D)

Estado de Malabo

19:00 GMT

During the 2014 World Cup, Cameroon had a nightmare of a tournament with cynical tackles, fighting among several unrest in their camp but six months down the line, the Indomitable Lions are a transformed side under Volker Finke. Mali haven’t had the best of preparations for this year’s AFCON with their training equipment arriving late and have their camp situated some distance away from the capital. The Indomitable Lions will look to restore the glory days of old after a slump in recent times.

Mali

• Mali have never won the AFCON in their history but have finished third in the last two editions.
• Their only final appearance in the AFCON was in 1972 which was hosted by Cameroon, but have been to five semi-finals since then.
• The Eagles have conceded a lone goal in seven of their last ten games in the competition.
• Mali are 49^th in the latest FIFA World Rankings and finished as runners-up in Group B in the qualifying phase.
• Mali captain and veteran Seydou Keita has scored seven goals in the last three Africa Cup of Nation tourneys, with no player in this year’s edition scoring more.

Cameroon

• The Indomitable Lions have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times with the 2002 being the most recent.
• They have scored two or more goals in eight of their last nine group games in the competiton.
• Cameroon are 42^nd in the FIFA World Rankings and ended the qualifiers as winners of Group D ahead of Ivory Coast.
• Cameroon captain Stephane Mbia will sit out of this game through suspension after being sent off against the Ivory Coast in November.
• Cameroon come into the tournament without Samuel Eto’o and Alex Song who have both retired from international soccer.

The last time these two sides met in the Africa Cup of Nations, the Indomitable Lions secured a 3-0 victory over the Eagles in a semi-final clash. Mali will count on the experience of Seydou Keita while the rejuvenated Cameroon side will look to Schalke striker Maxim Choupo-Motim to get them the goals in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash in Group D.

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