Mali and Cabo Verde will both be fighting to keep their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 hopes alive when they meet in a crucial Group D encounter on Sunday at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
With both sides searching for their first victory of the tournament, defeat could leave either nation on the brink of elimination.
History adds intrigue
The two teams are no strangers to each other, having met during the WAFCON qualifiers.
Mali claimed a 1-0 away victory in the first leg in Praia, but Cabo Verde responded with a stunning 4-2 win in Bamako to progress 4-3 on aggregate and qualify for their first-ever WAFCON.
Mali eventually reached the tournament after CAF expanded the competition from 12 to 16 teams, earning one of the additional places as one of the highest-ranked sides that had failed to qualify.
Mali targeting response
Mali defender Birama Konaté believes her side can revive their campaign with a positive result.
“This is a very important game for us. If we want to continue in this competition, we have to get a positive result against Cabo Verde. We still have a competitive spirit within the team. We believe we can turn our campaign around.”
Defender Coulouba Sogoré also stressed the team’s desire to improve on both their opening defeat to Cameroon and their previous meetings with Cabo Verde.
“We want to impose our style of football. We want to make changes to the way we played against Cameroon and during the qualifiers. We want to see more transition in the way we move the ball.”
Cabo Verde chasing first tournament win
Tournament debutants Cabo Verde are also desperate to secure their first WAFCON victory.
Since defeating Mali to qualify for the finals, the island nation has gone five matches without a win, recording one draw and four defeats while failing to score in all five games.
Head coach Silvéria Nédio remains confident her side can rise to the occasion.
“We want to give our best. We need to win. We are better prepared. There is a lot at stake for our country. We have to stay strong, focused and maintain a positive mindset.”
Returning midfielder Eveline Pereira, who missed the opening match through suspension, is eager to make an impact.
“Mali is a team that we know already. It will be a difficult game. If we want something, then we have to fight for it.”
Teammates become rivals
The match will also feature an intriguing subplot as OGC Nice teammates Yakaré Niakaté of Mali and Sylviane Gomes of Cabo Verde line up on opposite sides in a contest that could determine their nations’ fate.
Stat of the match
Mali have never kept a clean sheet against tournament debutants, conceding in all six previous meetings, while Cabo Verde managed just one shot on target in their opening Group D defeat to Ghana.
