The Mali national team have arrived in Tangier with renewed confidence ahead of their meeting with Morocco this Sunday at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
The friendly comes at an important stage for a side undergoing a significant rebuild under new head coach Anthony Da Silva, who took charge during the summer on a three-year contract.
The Portuguese coach has been entrusted with an ambitious project, with Mali targeting a semi-final place at AFCON 2027, competing for the continental title at the following edition and ultimately securing qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
A Perfect Start to the Qualifying Campaign
The Eagles enter the friendly in excellent spirits after taking six points from their opening two AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
They began with an impressive 3–1 victory over Cape Verde before following it up with a 1–0 win against Liberia.
The results have provided an ideal start to Da Silva's tenure and given the squad additional confidence ahead of a much tougher test in Tangier.
The Malian delegation travelled to Morocco from Monrovia, where the team had completed its previous qualifying assignment, before beginning preparations for Sunday's encounter.
Three New Faces Earn Their First Call-Ups
Da Silva selected a 26-player squad for the international window, with three players receiving their first senior call-ups.
Goalkeeper Emile Doucouré of Genk, defender Adama Camara of Paris and Reims forward Ange Martial Tia have all been introduced to the senior setup.
Their selection reflects the coaching staff's emphasis on fitness, competitiveness and commitment, while also signalling the beginning of a new generation within the national team.
A Squad Undergoing Major Changes
The current group represents a significant departure from the squad that competed at AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
Only 15 players from the previous tournament squad have been retained, while 13 have been left out for various reasons, including injuries and a lack of match fitness.
Among the notable absentees is captain Yves Bissouma, who is currently without a club.
Other familiar names, including Mahamadou Doumbia, Sikou Niakaté and Mohamed Camara, are also missing from the current selection.
The attacking department has been affected by fitness concerns surrounding Moussa Sylla and El Bilal Touré, leading to the inclusion of Sékou Koïta and Mamadou Doumbia.
Experienced Leaders Remain at the Core
Despite the scale of the changes, the new coach has preserved several important pillars of the squad.
Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra remains one of the team's key figures, while the defensive line includes experienced players such as Hamari Traoré and Ousmane Camara.
In midfield, Aliou Dieng, Amadou Haidara, Lassana Coulibaly and Mamadou Sangaré provide a mixture of physical strength, experience and technical quality.
Further forward, Nene Dorgeles and Lassine Sinayoko remain among the team's attacking leaders, while other options include Almamy Touré and Gaoussou Diarra.
The balance between established internationals and emerging talent will be one of the most interesting aspects of Da Silva's new project.
A Valuable Test for Da Silva
Sunday's match represents an important opportunity for the Portuguese coach to measure his ideas against one of Africa's strongest national teams.
It will also be the 21st meeting between the two countries, with Morocco holding the historical advantage according to the figures provided: nine victories for the Atlas Lions, six for the Eagles and five draws.
Morocco have also scored 36 goals across those encounters, compared with 14 for their opponents. The most recent competitive meeting came at AFCON 2025, when the two sides played out a 1–1 draw.
Another Chapter in a Competitive Rivalry
For Morocco, the friendly is an opportunity to close the international window on a positive note after victories over Gabon and Lesotho in AFCON 2027 qualifying.
For the visitors, it represents something more: a chance to see how their revamped squad performs against a team that has established itself among the continent's leading sides.
For the Atlas Lions, the match offers another valuable opportunity to test their progress and continue building momentum under Mohamed Ouahbi