Mali and Tunisia faced off in a compelling Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Both teams, having navigated their way through the group stages as runners-up, sought to secure a coveted spot in the quarter-finals.

Mali entered the match with a record of three draws in the group stage, reflecting a sense of resilience but also highlighting their struggles to convert control into decisive victories. Tunisia, on the other hand, had a mixed run, with one win, one draw, and one loss.

Historically, the encounters between Mali and Tunisia have been closely contested. Prior to this match, the two teams had met four times in the Africa Cup of Nations, with Mali holding an unbeaten record of two wins and two draws. However, in their overall head-to-head record, Tunisia had the upper hand with seven wins compared to Mali's five, with three draws.

The match was expected to be a tight and tactical affair, with neither side willing to give an inch. Mali was forced to make at least one change to their lineup due to Amadou Haidara's suspension. Djigui Diarra was expected to continue in goal, with a defensive trio of Ousmane Camara, Aliou Dieng, and Abdoulaye Diaby. The midfield was likely anchored by Lassana Coulibaly and Yves Bissouma, while Lassine Sinayoko and Mamadou Sangaré led the attack. Tunisia's possible lineup included Dahmen in goal, a defense consisting of Abdi, Talbi, Bronn, and Valery, a midfield of Skhiri, Gharbi and Mejbri, and an attack composed of Achouri, Tounekti, and Mastouri.

The game kicked off at 8:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT). Football fans across the world followed the action, with live coverage available on various platforms, including beIN SPORTS in the United States, fuboTV in Canada, and 4seven in the UK.