Morocco – Mali: Atlas Lions out to stamp authority at home 
Morocco continue their Africa Cup of Nations run on Friday night against Mali at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. After a controlled opening against Comoros, the Atlas Lions have the chance to put themselves squarely in command of first place in Group A.
Morocco: time to step up 
Everything wasn’t perfect in the first match, but the result’s what mattered. Clumsy for long stretches against Comoros, Morocco made the difference after the break. Soufiane Rahimi’s missed penalty might’ve sown doubt — it didn’t. The side never lost its head.
Brahim Diaz unlocked the game after the interval, then Ayoub El Kaabi wrapped it up with an acrobatic finish that’ll be one of the tournament’s standout images. A 2-0 win and a clean sheet — exactly the kind of solidity Morocco have been showing for months.
The result extended an impressive run: the Atlas Lions haven’t lost in 18 games across all competitions. At home they’re near-impossible to beat, and the Rabat crowd should push them on again.
With a deep squad and well-drilled patterns, Walid Regragui now wants crisper finishing. Against an opponent tougher than Comoros, the demand for quality will clearly rise.
Mali: a stubborn side under pressure 
Mali left a decent impression in their opener against Zambia, but the overall feeling is mixed. The Eagles did the hard part by scoring after the break, only to be pegged back late after a lapse in concentration.
Like Morocco, the Malians also missed a penalty in the first half — a sign of a match where cutting edge was missing. The draw keeps their unbeaten run alive, but it leaves a slightly unfinished taste.
On paper Mali have strengths, especially in midfield, but their away numbers are worrying. One win in their last six trips, and a real struggle to impose themselves on Africa’s bigger nations.
Recent meetings don’t help the Eagles either — they haven’t beaten Morocco in several encounters and have been blunt in recent duels.
Probable line-ups
Morocco : Bono, Mazraoui, Aguerd, El Yamiq, Salah-Eddine, Ounahi, Amrabat, Saibari, Diaz, El Kaabi, El Aynaoui
Mali : Diarra, Coulibaly, Diaby, Fofana, Dante, Sangaré, Dieng, Sinayoko, Doumbia, Nene, E. B. Touré
Key takeaways
- Morocco are on a long unbeaten run.
- The Atlas Lions are rock-solid at home.
- Mali struggle to win on the road.
- A Moroccan win would all but seal top spot.
Football Tips Morocco vs Mali
Morocco to win
In front of their crowd, with a stronger squad and confidence in the locker, Morocco look to have all the cards. Mali will offer a serious fight, but over the full 90 minutes the Atlas Lions’ control and bench depth should make the difference.
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