The South African National Team, led by Al Ahly’s star Percy Tau, commences its journey in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a face-off against Mali, featuring the Red Devils’ midfield maestro, Aliou Diang.
Anticipation runs high among the Red Castle’s fanbase as they eagerly await the clash of these two teammates on the African stage, under the banner of the “African Cup of Nations.”
The match is set to kick off at 10:00 PM Cairo time at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, marking a fixture in Group F.
As the “Al Masry Al Youm” reviews this encounter, it sheds light on significant numbers and statistics for the Mali vs. South Africa match in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations:
– This will mark the third encounter between Mali and South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The previous two meetings saw Mali emerge victorious, twice in the quarterfinals: 0-2 in 2002 and through penalties in 2013.
– Mali’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations reaches its 13th edition, making it nine consecutive appearances.
No team has played as many games as Mali in the AFCON – 54 matches without clinching the title.
– Mali has never lost its opening match in the Africa Cup of Nations, securing victory in seven and losing five.
However, they haven’t won consecutive matches in a single tournament since 2004.
– South Africa’s 11th participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, the first since 2019, brings back memories of their sole title in 1996, as hosts.
– The “Bafana Bafana” reached the semi-finals in their first three AFCON appearances (in 1996, 1998, 2000).
Since then, they haven’t progressed beyond the quarterfinals, winning only three of their last 20 matches.
– South Africa hasn’t scored more than one goal in their last nine AFCON matches.
The last time they did so was against Morocco in the 2013 group stage (2-2).
– South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, participates in the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time as a coach.
He led Cameroon to victory in 2017.
