Mali VS Ivory Coast Match Prediction

In seven meetings, Mali have just one win against Ivory Coast, with four wins for their opponents and two draws split between them.

Here's a look at the last five results:

Oct 6, 2017: Mali 0-0 Ivory Coast (WCQ)
Oct 8, 2016: Ivory Coast 3-1 Mali (WCQ)
Feb 4, 2016: Mali 1-0 Ivory Coast (ANC)
Jan 24, 2015: Ivory Coast 1-1 Mali (ACO)
Feb 8, 2012: Mali 0-1 Ivory Coast (ACO)

MLI vs CIV Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

Mali are at 5/2 to win, a draw is at 2/1, and an Ivory Coast win is at 5/4.

Mali have been pretty good over the last year, only losing twice, once to Algeria and once to Senegal, along the way, and that has continued here in this AFCON tournament.  They got a big 4-1 win to open up the tournament against lowly Mauritania to boost confidence before getting a credible draw with Tunisia and then defeating Angola to top the group.  This is a team that is eternally on the cusp of glory, and they are a major threat to anyone that lines up across from them.

Ivory Coast are quite inconsistent as it relates to this tournament, but when they are good, they are typically extremely good.  That means they are not ones to turn your backs on and could well strike here.  In their last year of action, they have only lost twice, with one of those two losses coming at the hands of Morocco in the group.  That caused them to finish second and sets us up for a massive clash here between two teams capable of winning the entire tournament.

Both teams scoring, via Betfair, is at 2.45.

Ladbrokes have Ivory Coast leading after 30 minutes at 17/5.

Mali vs Ivory Coast Prediction

This is one of the tighter contests to call so far in this entire tournament, with two extremely good teams facing off that could conceivably both won their groups.  In the end, the Ivory Coast’s additional experience will be enough to push them to a win.

Correct Score Prediction: Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast

Mali Team News

Caretaker boss Mohamed Magassouba has no restrictions here, and he will likely stick with the team that took him and his side to victory and the group win over Angola in their latest outing.  

Mali Key Man

How do you score two goals, one of which you weren’t even on the field for?  Well, you don’t, but if you have the same name, you might ruffle a few feathers.  That’s what Mali did with the Adama Traore duo in the win over Mauritania to begin the group stage.  Each man scored a goal, one after the other had replaced him, and they now look like they each should and could get the nod here as they look to send their side through to the last eight.

Mali Team Form

Mali have two wins, two draws, and a loss in their last five matches:

0-1 win vs Angola
1-1 draw vs Tunisia
4-1 win vs Mauritania
3-2 loss at Algeria (Fri)
1-1 draw at Cameroon (Fri)

Mali Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-2-3-1

Ivory Coast Team News

Ibrahim Kamara might just make a rotation or two, such as bringing Nicolas Pepe back into the starting XI, but by and large, there shouldn’t be a ton of changes ringed in by the manager.

Ivory Coast Key Man

Now, this is a lethal attack, or at least one that has the potential to be, and it showed in the win over Namibia last time out, as Franck Kessie showed just how vital a ball-playing midfielder could be.  The AC Milan man assisted on three of the team’s four goals, showing how big he is at distributing and obstructing.  Going forward, they have Wilf Zaha on the wing, a downright weapon to use.  Pace a plenty, he also has a huge back of tricks that could well have him departing Crystal Palace later this summer.

Ivory Coast Team Form

Ivory Coast have three wins and two losses in their last five matches:

1-4 win Namibia
1-0 loss vs Morocco
1-0 win vs South Africa
4-1 home win vs Zambia (Fri)
0-1 home loss vs Uganda (Fri)

Ivory Coast Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-2-3-1

When Ivory Coast want to, they can pour on the goals, and if history is anything to go by, that prospect will be a major worry for Mali. They can't afford to give their opponents a foothold in the game, but it's going to be a tough one to prevent. Despite Mali being slight favorites, perhaps, Ivory Coast look like they could be the ones to get the job done and advance to the next round as they seek to follow up their 2015 triumph.

Mali have never scored more than a single goal against Ivory Coast in any one match.