Nigeria faced off against Mali in an international friendly match on March 26, 2024, at 21:00 UTC. The game, part of the Int. Friendly Games, saw Mali secure a 2-0 victory over Nigeria. Here's a detailed look at the match, including lineups, key moments, and the final score.
Match Summary
Nigeria ended the March 2024 international break with a 2-0 defeat to Mali in a friendly match held in Marrakesh, Morocco. Despite being ranked 19 places below Nigeria in FIFA's standings, Mali earned a well-deserved victory. Atalanta striker El Bilal Toure opened the scoring in the first half, capitalizing on a defensive error by Nigeria. Kamory Doumbia sealed the win with a late goal.
The match served as a reality check for Nigeria, especially after their 2-1 victory over Ghana last Friday. The Super Eagles will need to address several concerns before resuming World Cup qualifying in June, where they are set to face South Africa.
Key Moments
The first half saw Nigeria pressured into a mistake following a short goal kick, leading to El Bilal Toure's goal. Toure controlled the ball on his chest and finished past goalkeeper Stanely Nwabali. Moses Simon of Nigeria suffered a knee injury after colliding with Mali keeper Mamadou Samassa and had to be substituted. Cyriel Dessers replaced him but missed a clear chance to equalize. In the 87th minute, Kamory Doumbia scored Mali's second goal after another defensive error by Nigeria.
Final Score
Nigeria 0 - 2 Mali
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- Toure (18')
- K. Doumbia (87')
Match Stats
Here's a summary of the match statistics:
| Statistic | Nigeria | Mali |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 2 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 0 | 3 |
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Corners | 5 | 2 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 0 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Lineups and Team News
Nigeria's interim coach, Finidi George, faced challenges due to injuries to key players such as Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, and Zaidu Sanusi. Midfielder Frank Onyeka also withdrew from the squad. Kenneth Omeruo started in central defense, and Wilfred Ndidi featured in midfield.
Starting Lineups:
- Nigeria (3-4-3, right to left): Nwabali (GK) - Omeruo, Awaziem, Ajayi - Osayi-Samuel, Ndidi, Onyedika, Collins - Iwobi, Iheanacho, Simon
- Mali (4-3-3, right to left): Samassa (GK) - Traore, Kouyate, Sagnon, Guindo - Coulibaly, Samassekou, Haidara - Toure, K. Doumbia, Sinayoko
Substitutes:
- Nigeria subs: Uzoho, Ojo, Tanimu, Lookman, Dessers, Umar, Tella, Dele-Bashiru, Onyemaechi, Yusuf
- Mali subs: Diarra, Sacko, Fofana, Maiga, M.
Mali, who had previously defeated Mauritania 2-0, presented a significant challenge for Nigeria. The match took place in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Moses Simon Injury
Moses Simon's injury occurred with around 10 minutes left in the first half after a collision with Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa. The Nantes winger appeared to injure his knee and was stretchered off, with Cyriel Dessers replacing him.
Nigeria vs. Mali Head-to-Head
This was the 12th meeting between Nigeria and Mali.
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Match Timings Across Territories
- USA: Tues, Mar. ET
- Canada: Tues, Mar. ET
- UK: Tues, Mar. GMT
- Australia: Weds, Mar. AEDT
- India: Weds, Mar. IST
Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Mali 🇲🇱 Full Highlights #AfroBasketWomen 2025
Mali National Football Team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles, represents Mali in men's international football and is governed by the Malian Football Federation. While Mali has a strong youth football program, they have never qualified for a senior FIFA World Cup final. Mali reached the 1972 African Nations Cup final but lost to Congo. The team played their first World Cup qualifier in 2000.
The rivalry between Mali and Tunisia has been evident, with frequent matches, especially in the Africa Cup of Nations. The two teams first met on January 6, 1974, in a friendly match in Bamako, which Mali won 1-0. In recent years, they have met in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, 2021, and 2023, with Mali winning two matches and one ending in a draw.
Mali's closest chance to qualify for the World Cup was in the 2022 World Cup qualification, where they lost to Tunisia. Mali have never won the Africa Cup of Nations, with their best result being runners-up in 1972. They have qualified for the tournament fourteen times in total, finishing as runners-up once, third twice, and fourth three times.
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