Africa Cup of Nations
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1 vs 2
Played
February 1, 2012 6:00 PM GMT
Stade d'Angondjé — Libreville
Referee:‬ Khalid Abdul Rahman‎
 

2012 Africa Cup of Nations Preview: Botswana - Mali

The Zebras are aiming to get their first Afcon points in this encounter, while the Eagles are still able to qualify for the quarter-finals depending on the other result in Group D

By Peter Pedroncelli

More On :  Botswana, Mali, Botswana vs Mali
Mali team
Goal.com


 PROBABLE LINEUPS

BOTSWANA


Marumo
Thuma, Gabonamong, Ohilwe, Ramohibidu
Mogorosi, Mongala, Mafoko, Moatlhaping
Moloi, Ramatlhakwane
MALI

 
Diakite
Coulibaly, Tamboura, Berthe, Kante
A. Traore, Keita, Kone, M. Traore
Maiga, Diabate
Botswana were the surprise team of the first round of matches when they gave World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana a run for their money on Tuesday. Even though the Zebras lost 1-0, they proved that they were not pushovers and showed how much the smaller African countries have developed. They could not keep that momentum up in their second match, however, as Guinea thrashed the Zebras 6-1 following the sending off of Patrick Motsepe.

Mali got their 2012 Afcin campaign off to a flying start with a 1-0 victory over neighbours Guinea in Franceville to join Ghana at the top of Group D following the first round of matches, but the Eagles were brought down to earth when the Black Stars beat them 2-0 in the second game, leaving them on three points ahead of their match with the Zebras.

While for Botswana there is little more than pride on the line, due to the fact that they have no points after two games, Mali are in with a good chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, as they will continue in the tournament if they beat their opponents. Guinea face Ghana and are currently on the same points as the Malians, so if they were to both win, Mali would progress due to their 1-0 win over the side in their first Afcon match. If the Eagles were to lose or draw, however, they would need Ghana to do them a favour against Guinea in the other Group D fixture.

Botswana substitute Patrick Motsepe was sent off against Guinea for a dangerous tackle on Pascal Feindouno, so he will be suspended for the encounter. Mali had issues with injuries on the eve of the tournament, losing midfielder Kalilou Traore and defender Mohamed Fofana, but replacements Ousmane Berthe and Souleymane Keita have done well, and the squad is not suffering from any major injury concerns ahead of this match.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Botswana were the first country to qualify for the Afcon finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
  • The coach of the Zebras, Stanley Tshosane, is a former army officer who has declared a no sex ban on his players throughout the tournament.
  • Botswana is making their Afcon debut after qualifying from a group that contained Tunisia, Togo and Malawi.
  • All the players of the Zebras play their football in the local league or across the border in South Africa's PSL.
  • Mali are known by their nickname, the Eagles.
  • Mali are currently placed 69th on the Fifa Rankings, while their opponents in this match are 94th.

  • The Eagles have produced some of the best defensive midfielders on the continent in the last decade, which include Seydou Keita, Mahamadou Diarra and Momo Sissoko.
  • Mali were involved in one of the most dramatic matches at the last tournament in Angola when they came back from 4-0 down with 15 minutes left to draw with the hosts in the opening match.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Botswana 0-2 Mali
    18.64 %
  • Botswana 1-0 Mali
    13.56 %
  • Botswana 1-2 Mali
    11.86 %
Head to Head
Africa Cup of Nations ‎(ACN)‎ Feb 1, 2012 Botswana 1 - Mali 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Botswana
Feb 1, 2012Botswana 1 - Mali 2ACN
Jan 28, 2012Botswana 1 - Guinea 6ACN
Jan 24, 2012Ghana 1 - Botswana 0ACN
Oct 11, 2008Botswana 0 - Mozambique 1WCQ
Sep 7, 2008Madagascar 1 - Botswana 0WCQ
Mali
Feb 11, 2012Ghana 0 - Mali 2ACN
Feb 8, 2012Mali 0 - Cote d'Ivoire 1ACN
Feb 5, 2012Gabon 1 - Mali 1ACN
Feb 1, 2012Botswana 1 - Mali 2ACN
Jan 28, 2012Ghana 2 - Mali 0ACN
Odds
Returns: Botswana £710.00 William Hill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £150.00 William Hill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Mali £13.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
-Modiri MarumoGoalkeeper
-Ndiyapo LetsholathebeDefender
-Mmusa OhilweDefender
-Mompati ThumaDefender
-Tshepo MotlhabankweDefender
-Boitumelo MafokoMidfielder
-Mogogi GabonamongMidfielder
-Moemedi MoatlhapingMidfielder
-Jerome RamatlhakwaneStriker
-Mogakolodi NgeleStriker
-Lemponye TshireletsoStriker
-Kabelo DambeGoalkeeper
-Noah MaposaGoalkeeper
-Monametsi KelebaleDefender
-Mosimanegape RamoshibiduDefender
-Phenyo David MongalaMidfielder
-Abednico PowellMidfielder
-Ofentse NatoMidfielder
-Othusitse PilaneMidfielder
-Dipsy SelolwaneMidfielder
-Pontsho MoloiStriker
-Onalethata TshekisoStriker
-Patrick MotsepeMidfielder
22Oumar SissokoGoalkeeper
3Adama TambouraDefender
2Ousmane BerthéDefender
15Cédric KantéDefender
14Abdou TraoréMidfielder
12Seydou KeitaMidfielder
14Drissa DiakitéMidfielder
15Bakaye TraoréMidfielder
-Samba SowMidfielder
10Modibo MaigaStriker
-Garra DembeleStriker
-Almamy SogobaGoalkeeper
16Soumbeyla DiakiteGoalkeeper
23Abdoulaye MaïgaDefender
-Drissa CoulibalyDefender
-Mahamadou Bamba N'DiayeDefender
-Ousmane CoulibalyDefender
-Souleymane KeitaMidfielder
17Mahamane El Hadji TraoréMidfielder
-Sidy KonéMidfielder
-Samba DiakitéMidfielder
21Mustapha YatabareStriker
-Cheick Tidiane DiabatéStriker
Players to Watch
Dipsy Selolwane
Dipsy Selolwane
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 0
Games Goals YC RC
2 1 0 0
The play-maker adds a great deal of quality to Botswana's attacks when he is on form, and he could create or score a goal in this encounter.
Seydou Keita
Seydou Keita
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 12
Games Goals YC RC
6 1 2 0
His experience and hard work in midfield will be important for the Malians in this match, with a quarter-final spot still on the line.
Prediction
The Zebras are determined to show that their Afcon qualification was not a fluke, but the Eagles may prove too tough for the debutants.
Editor's Prediction
Botswana 1
Mali 3
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Results
Matchday 3
Times In GMT
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Cote d'Ivoire 		3 0
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