Mali, Mauritania in West African Derby battle
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Mali will face off with their neighbours, Mauritania in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F match at the Stade Omnisport de Douala in Cameroon on Thursday. Kick-off is at 9:00 pm CAT.
The Eagles kept their hopes of progressing to the knockout phase on track when they collected a point from their 1-1 draw against The Gambia in their second Group F match on Sunday.
Mali are placed second on the group standings - level on points with leaders, Gambia, who are only on top on alphabetical order as the two teams have an identical record - two goals scored and one conceded by both sides.
Mohamed Magassouba, the Mali head coach, reflected on their encounter with the Scorpions of Gambia and he believes that his side will advance to the Last 16 ahead of their clash with their West African rivals.
"We knew that the meeting with The Gambia would be a duel. A very tough match with a physical impact. The real problem is that our team did not play its own values," Magassouba told the media.
"The draw has literary qualified us. If we lost to Mauritania we will be the third-best team and we will qualify for the last round of 16."
Meanwhile, Mauritania have endured a disappointing AFCON campaign having succumbed to a 4-0 defeat to Tunisia on Sunday and it was their second loss in Group F having also lost to Gambia.
The Lions of Chinguetti are placed fourth on the group standings with their ambitions of reaching the knockout phase having diminished and they will be determined to bow out with a win over Mali.
Didier Gomes Da Rosa, the Mali hard coach, described his charges' performance against Tunisia as shameful, but he promise that his side will play for the West African country's dignity against the Eagles.
"It's a very difficult moment. We wanted to honour the country and unfortunately, we missed it. We will first digest and try to finish with dignity against Mali," Da Rosa told the media.
“We made a very bad start, too much technical waste. It's shameful, very disappointed with the display, the way. We wanted to make the country proud, that's the disappointment. We created some opportunities. We revolted but timidly."
The last meeting between Mali and Mauritania was on 20 October 2019.
Mali claimed a 2-0 win over Mauritania in the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at the Stade Omnisports Modibo Keita in Bamako.
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