Mali made a stunning start to their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Group E, delivering a commanding 4-1 victory over Mauritania on Monday evening at the new Suez Stadium. The match was the highest-scoring of the tournament so far, showcasing the Eagles’ attacking prowess and setting the tone for their group-stage campaign.
Abdoulaye Diaby opened the scoring in the 37th minute, giving Mali an early advantage. Just before halftime, Moussa Marega converted a penalty to make it 2-0, ensuring the team went into the break with a comfortable lead.
The Eagles continued their dominance in the second half, with Adama Traoré—nicknamed Moss—extending the lead in the 55th minute. Mauritania’s Moktar El Hacen managed to pull one back, providing a brief glimmer of hope for the Mourabitounes, but Mali responded decisively. Another Adama Traoré struck with a spectacular shot into the top corner, securing Mali’s fourth goal and cementing the team’s victory.
With this emphatic win, Mali tops Group E ahead of Tunisia and Angola and is well-positioned to secure qualification to the knockout stages if they can defeat Tunisia in their next match on Friday.
For Mauritania, the result was a harsh lesson in the demands of top-level competition. The Mourabitounes will need to regroup quickly, as any mistakes against Angola on Saturday could severely impact their chances of advancing in the tournament. Mali’s dominant display highlighted their attacking depth, clinical finishing, and team cohesion, making them a team to watch in the early stages of AFCON 2019.
