Mali - Burkina Faso: A West-African CHAN derby

Mali faces their neighbors Burkina Faso on Saturday (16 Hanuary 2021) at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé for Group A Match Day 1 of the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN), 2020.

The Eagles of Mali are counting on their young elements to repeat the feat of 2016, when they reached the final of the tournament. For this year, the foals of Nohoum Diané with several matches in the legs, can count on a rich workforce, but also experience.

In their last appearance in the 2016 Total African Nations Championship, Mali had lost only one of their six matches (3 wins, 2 draws). It was in the final against DR Congo (0-3). A course that Mamadou Doumbia's teammates would like to redo, who prepared well with, in particular, the participation in the Niamey tournament.

For Mali international Moussa Kiabou, the ambition is "to win as many matches as possible. We have a team that is a mix of young talent and experienced players who have won trophies with the youth teams."

The opponent of day 1, Burkina Faso, come to CHAN 2020 with one goal, to qualify for the quarterfinals at least. The Stallions who have never won a match in two CHAN participations (3 draws, 3 losses) wish to change the situation with players like Amadou Zon, Hermann Nikièma and Soumaïla Ouattara.

“Our goal is to qualify for the quarter-finals. It is true that we have not been good in the past, but then everything has changed, and it is up to us to prove what we are worth,” said Burkina Faso coach Seydou Zerbo.