Mali is set to test their might against the energized hosts, Côte d'Ivoire in a clash of titans at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
The Stade de la Paix in Bouake will bear witness to a battle where Côte d'Ivoire, despite their recent turnaround by eliminating defending champions Senegal in a dramatic penalty shootout, faces the challenge of being winless in their last three matches and yet to find the net from open play.
The hosts have a historic connection with the Stade de la Paix, boasting memorable victories such as the 5-0 triumph over Madagascar in 2008.
Mali will depend heavily on forward Lassine Sinayoko, who has scored three goals in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d'lvoire 2023.
Emerse Fae’s team have conceded six goals in their last three games, and will have a lot of work to do to stop the silky Malian attack, who have scored 5 goals in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d'lvoire 2023.
Emerse Fae - Cotê d’Ivoire head coach
After the qualification against Senegal, we were able to take up our colors which was very complicated for us from the very beginning but to be able to win especially when we went to penalties, it was actually touching.
The Malian team is a good. They have good midfielders and we know it will be very tough and from our side, we are tough also.
I am not a magician and I have never been one in any way. I’m also a young coach who knows this group very well. I have been with them for about a year and a half. After the drama we had against Equatorial Guinea, I had lot of confidence in the squad and I was able to give them adequate and appropriate words.
We are going to prepare a team that is going to play against Mali. We will prepare in terms of the quality. We have our strength and what is important is we concentrate on our team.
Yahia Fofana - Côte d’Ivoire player
We are going to approach the game more positively. It is going to be a more difficult game against Mali on Saturday, and we are not going to underestimate them because they are good.
Éric Sékou Chelle
Mali head coach
We are happy to be here. We have had sometime to recover and to also prepare ourselves for this game and this also an eliminating game and is very symbolical for us and we are expecting a lot from this game.
We are going to play against the host country, the country organizing this tournament
There is one thing that is important for me, Cotê d’Ivoire is part of the favorite like I said from the beginning, they are the host country they are the organizers and are more like the favorite.
We are actually working before each game especially the defence and we are progressing everyday. The strikers are also working and it is always about teamwork
We have players who are not here but are always supporting us
This is a high level and we are going to give a good account of ourselves
We are working very hard and we all know what needs to be done, I need to give my players the right mentality. We need to move together and make sure we work in humility.
This game is going to vs an emotional game, it is going to be a match between two brothers and I have my take on the cotê d’Ivoire team as well. There are players in vote divide with connection from Mali so it is going to be an emotional game.
Lassine Sinayoko - Mali player
We are in a good state of mind. We are all in shape, the team is doing well for this game, we are concentrated and focused for this game tomorrow.