On Friday night, Mali and South Sudan clash in the last game in Group G of qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.
Mali form guideThe home team currently tops Group G, having already sealed their place at next year’s African Cup of Nations. Eric Chelle’s team have won four of their five matches in Group G, scoring at least two goals in each of those four victories in qualifying.
Mali has also kept clean sheets in four of their last six African Cup of Nations qualifiers. The recent clean sheets have contributed majorly to their previous three qualifiers producing under 2.5 goals.
The visitors have a formidable recent home record in AFCON qualifiers. Mali are unbeaten in their previous 12 qualifying matches in front of their own supporters, including four straight home wins on home soil. They have also kept three consecutive clean sheets in qualifiers.
South Sudan form guideThe visitors have endured a poor qualifying campaign in Group G, picking up just three points from their five qualifiers. A 3-2 home defeat by Gambia last time out also means that South Sudan have lost four of their previous five matches in qualifying.
Their recent games have at least been entertaining, with over 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
South Sudan has been poor travellers lately, as they have won just three of their 15 away games in African Cup of Nations qualifying, having also suffered 12 defeats in the run. Their recent away qualifiers have been relatively low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their previous seven games.
What am I backing?Mali has been formidable on home soil in recent home qualifiers, and I believe this will be another home victory.
