Mali and Rwanda meet in Bamako with top spot in Group K at stake

Mali host Rwanda at the Stade du 26-Mars in Bamako on Friday, 13 November, with kick-off at 20:00, as both sides look to strengthen their position in Group K of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Both teams have won their opening two matches and have six points, with a goal difference of +3. Rwanda lead the group on goals scored, having found the net five times compared with Mali’s four. Only the top two teams will qualify for the finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Anthony Da Silva began his competitive reign as Mali manager with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Cape Verde on 25 September. Ange Martial Tia put the Eagles ahead in the fifth minute, before Sidny Cabral equalised five minutes later. Nene Dorgeles then scored twice, in the 39th and 51st minutes.

Tia scored again four days later, settling a 1-0 win away to Liberia in Paynesville with a 79th-minute finish. Mali then drew 1-1 with Morocco in a friendly in Tangier on 4 October. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli converted a 35th-minute penalty for Morocco, while Gaoussou Diarra equalised in the 77th minute. Mali are unbeaten in their past three matches.

The historical record also favours the hosts. Mali have never lost to Rwanda, recording three wins and one draw in World Cup qualifying, scoring seven goals and conceding two. They won 1-0 at home and 3-0 in Kigali in late 2021. Da Silva, however, believes the teams are evenly matched ahead of Friday’s meeting.

Rwanda opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Liberia in Kigali on 25 September. Abeddy Biramahire, Leroy Mickels and Joy-Lance Mickels, from the penalty spot, scored for the Amavubi.

They followed that with a 2-1 comeback win against Cape Verde in Praia on 29 September. Claude Niyomugabo levelled shortly before half-time with a long-range effort after a corner, and Elie Tatou Iradukunda completed the turnaround in the 52nd minute after a mistake by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. Rwanda were limited to six shots in a match where Cape Verde had 19.

After returning as Rwanda manager, Stephen Constantine said “the revolution had started”. His side later drew 0-0 with Kenya in a friendly on 5 October. Rwanda are seeking their first Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance since 2004, but have conceded in both qualifying matches.

Mali’s Tia, who has scored twice in two appearances, is unavailable with an ankle injury. Adama Camara is out with a hamstring problem and Lassana Coulibaly with a biceps femoris injury. West Ham midfielder Mohamadou Kante has received his first call-up after choosing Mali over France and Senegal, while Swansea winger Moussa Yeo, 22, joins the squad after scoring three goals in his past five club matches.

Gaoussou Diakite of Salzburg and Fode Doucoure of Nantes return to a 24-man squad. Yves Bissouma, who moved to Ajax at the end of September, is absent, with no reason given.

Constantine trimmed Rwanda’s squad on Monday, 9 November, leaving out Elie Ganijuru, Kevin Muhire, Taiba Mbonyumwami and goalkeeper Yves Mugisha. Fidele Uwiyaremye had already been sent home on the first day of the camp for disciplinary reasons. Thierry Manzi and Jean Bosco Ruboneka return after missing the September matches, while Bonheur Mugisha, Gilbert Mugisha and Leroy-Jacques Mickels joined the camp on Monday.

Mali have kept clean sheets in their past two meetings with Rwanda, while their defence has conceded only once in the opening two qualifying games. Rwanda may settle for a draw before the return fixture in Kigali on 17 November, but the hosts will aim to take control of the group in Bamako.