AFCON 2015 Qualifiers – Mali vs Algeria: Cheikh Diabaté Urges Eagles to Rise in Bamako Showdown
The Eagles of Mali face a do-or-die mission this Wednesday at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, as they welcome Algeria for the sixth and final matchday of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. With qualification on the line, Cheikh Diabaté and his teammates must rise to the occasion to secure a spot in Equatorial Guinea.
“We have prepared very well for this crucial match,” said Cheikh Diabaté, the Girondins de Bordeaux striker. “We know the Algerian national team very well and we know that the match will not be easy for us. That said, we must take advantage of playing on home turf and in front of our fans. We are favorites to take the three points and we will do everything possible to achieve this goal.”
Mali, who are currently tied with Malawi in second place, must win and hope to finish with a better goal difference or points tally to secure qualification. Their opponents, Algeria, have already sealed their place and top the group with a perfect record, but show no signs of letting up.
Injury Concerns
Diabaté’s participation remains in doubt due to a minor injury, but his vocal presence reflects the urgency within the Malian camp. The team must capitalize on the home crowd advantage and avoid depending on the result of Malawi’s match against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Everything at Stake
For a nation that has consistently appeared at AFCON since 2008, anything less than qualification would be seen as a major setback. With stars like Sigamary Diarra and Seydou Keita also rallying the squad, Mali hopes to finish strong and write their own destiny.
Kickoff is set for this Wednesday evening, with all Group B matches scheduled simultaneously. The pressure is high—but the Eagles have one last chance to fly to Equatorial Guinea.
