The Central African Republic (CAR) will face Mali at the Stade Larbi Zaouli on Monday in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
With three previous encounters failing to produce a victory for CAR, coach Rigobert Song’s squad will be eager to break the trend and revive their qualifying hopes.
CAR’s struggles in the qualifiers continued last Wednesday when they endured a crushing 4-1 defeat to Madagascar.
With just four points from five matches, they currently occupy fifth place in Group I, ahead of only Chad, who remain without a point.
Mali, in contrast, enter the fixture with momentum following a dominant 3-0 victory over Comoros last Thursday.
The result marked a strong return to World Cup qualifying action for Tom Saintfiet’s side. Prior to that, Mali impressed in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, topping Group I with 14 points.
In the World Cup qualifiers, Mali have secured eight points from a possible 15 and currently sit fourth in Group I, just two points behind second-placed Madagascar.
A win against CAR could propel them into serious contention for qualification.
With both teams needing maximum points for different reasons, Monday’s showdown promises to be an intense battle.
While Mali aim to climb the standings, CAR will be desperate to turn their fortunes around and claim their first-ever victory over their West African opponents.
Kick off for the game is scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
