The June international break has been anything but smooth for Mali's national football team. Following their last-minute defeat against Ghana (1-2) in the third round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, coach Eric Chelle's men are gearing up to face Madagascar this Tuesday.
The match has been relocated to Johannesburg due to the lack of an approved stadium on the Malagasy side.
Despite Madagascar appearing to be a manageable opponent, Mali is currently grappling with a series of travel hurdles as they make their way to South Africa for the crucial match.
Severe weather conditions have led to the postponement of the Eagles' flight three times.
Finally, on Monday, they are set to take off, but the direct 7-hour flight originally planned has been canceled.
Instead, the delegation will have to endure a flight with a stopover in Ethiopia, significantly prolonging their travel time.
As a result of these setbacks, instead of arriving in South Africa at least 24 hours before kickoff, the Eagles are expected to land on Tuesday morning between 4 am and 5 am GMT.
This tight schedule seriously compromises the players' recovery time and physical condition, especially considering their current fourth-place position, where a victory is now imperative.