Goal.com
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BOTSWANA  Marumo Thuma, Gabonamong, Ohilwe, Ramohibidu Mogorosi, Mongala, Mafoko, Moatlhaping Moloi, Ramatlhakwane | MALI  Diakite Coulibaly, Tamboura, Berthe, Kante A. Traore, Keita, Kone, M. Traore Maiga, Diabate |
Mali got their 2012 Afcin campaign off to a flying start with a 1-0 victory over neighbours Guinea in Franceville to join Ghana at the top of Group D following the first round of matches, but the Eagles were brought down to earth when the Black Stars beat them 2-0 in the second game, leaving them on three points ahead of their match with the Zebras.
While for Botswana there is little more than pride on the line, due to the fact that they have no points after two games, Mali are in with a good chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, as they will continue in the tournament if they beat their opponents. Guinea face Ghana and are currently on the same points as the Malians, so if they were to both win, Mali would progress due to their 1-0 win over the side in their first Afcon match. If the Eagles were to lose or draw, however, they would need Ghana to do them a favour against Guinea in the other Group D fixture.
Botswana substitute Patrick Motsepe was sent off against Guinea for a dangerous tackle on Pascal Feindouno, so he will be suspended for the encounter. Mali had issues with injuries on the eve of the tournament, losing midfielder Kalilou Traore and defender Mohamed Fofana, but replacements Ousmane Berthe and Souleymane Keita have done well, and the squad is not suffering from any major injury concerns ahead of this match.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Botswana were the first country to qualify for the Afcon finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
- The coach of the Zebras, Stanley Tshosane, is a former army officer who has declared a no sex ban on his players throughout the tournament.
- Botswana is making their Afcon debut after qualifying from a group that contained Tunisia, Togo and Malawi.
- All the players of the Zebras play their football in the local league or across the border in South Africa's PSL.
- Mali are known by their nickname, the Eagles.
- Mali are currently placed 69th on the Fifa Rankings, while their opponents in this match are 94th.
- The Eagles have produced some of the best defensive midfielders on the continent in the last decade, which include Seydou Keita, Mahamadou Diarra and Momo Sissoko.
- Mali were involved in one of the most dramatic matches at the last tournament in Angola when they came back from 4-0 down with 15 minutes left to draw with the hosts in the opening match.
Prediction
The Zebras are determined to show that their Afcon qualification was not a fluke, but the Eagles may prove too tough for the debutants.
Editor's Prediction
Botswana 1-3 Mali 
