Omo, the AFCON 2025 don enter knockout stage o! As we dey waka go Round of 16, we go see Mali and Tunisia face each other on January 3 for Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca. Na big match wey plenty pipo dey wait for, as both teams don gree say dem ready to fight for quarter-finals to secure better bragging right.
First, make we yarn small about their history. Both teams don clash before, this go be the 16th time wey dem dey meet. Tunisia don win 7 times, Mali don chop 5 wins, and dem don draw 3 times. But guess wetin? For AFCON, Mali dey shine pass Tunisia as dem never lose to dem in their previous four clashes — two wins and two draws! You fit call that record sharp!
For this tournament, both teams enter Round of 16 without making major noise. Mali fit enter as group winners, but no be like say dem blow away the competition. Dem draw all three group matches. As for Tunisia, na two draws and one win, and that win no be anything to write home about. I mean, dem win Uganda, but na three goals dem collect from Nigeria. Chai! Talk about shaky defense!
Mali don dey chop pepper for the defense side too, as dem no allow fine chances. Dem inspire for tackling, highest number of tackles in this tournament. But dem red card wey Amadou Haidara collect don spoil small. Coach say dem fit manage, but na wetin we go see for pitch on Saturday.
Tunisia coach, Sami Trabelsi, don already talk say him sabi say fans dey vex for their performance. Him don show dem say dem need to step up as dem dey face plenty pressure. The players, like defender Yan Valery, don also talk about new beginning. Dem believe say dem fit turn am around against Mali. Na dis kind of talk wey dey ginger supporters’ hope!
Wetin dey clear be say this match no go simple at all. Mali go bet on dem strong defense, while Tunisia go need to find wetin dey screw with their attack. Three of Tunisia players — Ali Abdi, Hannibal Mejbri, and Elias Achouri — dey in form, all get two goal contributions. But if dem no fit jam shot on target, wetin be offensive magic for here?
Prediction wey plenty pipo dey run be say dis match fit end for 1-1 draw. Both teams go get chances, but naba abi “penalty shootout” go shine for Sinayoko and di boys. Abeg, make we set our reminder because dis match go get plenty gist, laughter, and wahala!
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