Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Mali-Zambia, the likely lineups

Mali-Zambia is a match valid for the first day of Group A of the African Cup of Nations 2025: the two teams will take the field at 3 p.m. Also in the group are hosts Morocco, which won in the tournament’s opening match against Comoros on Sunday. Mali-Zambia could already be considered a tiebreaker for second place in the standings behind the Moroccan selection. Mali has qualified steadily in the Africa Cup of Nations since the turn of the century, and made it all the way to the quarterfinals in 2023. Zambia, continental champion in 2012, is experiencing a downturn: in recent years it has never made it past the first round.

Mali is favored according to the oddsmakers: in attack Sinayoko will be the first point, on the three-quarter are Doumbia, Lassana Coulibaly and Nene, all players who play in Europe at a high level. In the median, Sangaré along with Dieng.

Zambia has lost nine of its last ten games and starts as underdogs. There’s star Leicester striker Daka, who will play in the trident flanked by Sakala and Phiri. In midfield Tembo, Simukonda, Kangwa.

Mali-Zambia, the likely lineups
MALI (4-2-3-1): Samassa; W. Coulibaly, Camara, Fofana, Dante; Sangaré, Dieng; Doumbia, L. Coulibaly, Nene; Sinayoko.
ZAMBIA (4-3-3): Mulenga; Banda, Chanda, Musonda, Hamansenya; Tembo, Simukonda, Kangwa; Phiri, Daka, Sakala.