The quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have set the stage for some thrilling matches, including a highly anticipated West African derby between Ivory Coast and Mali.
Ivory Coast’s journey to the round of 16 was a close call, securing their spot as one of the best third-placed teams in their group. They then went on to defy expectations by defeating Senegal, the tournament favorites, in a stunning upset. Mali, on the other hand, has been consistently strong, leading their group and overcoming Burkina Faso in the round of 16.
In this quarterfinal match, Eric Chelle’s team will face the host nation, which has rallied remarkably after a rocky start to the tournament. Alain Traoré, a former Burkina Faso international and analyst for Canal+, has weighed in on this neighboring rivalry, tipping Mali as the favorite.
Traoré highlights Mali’s midfield cohesion and strength, considering it to be more formidable and tactically superior to that of Ivory Coast. He praises the exceptional quality of the Malian midfield quartet—Camara, Coulibaly, Doumbia, and Haidara—rating them higher than the Ivorian trio of Seri, Sangaré, and Fofana.
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