Mali hoping to register 1st win over Cameroon

Mali will meet Cameroon in their 2015 CAF African Cup of Nations, Group D opening match in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday night.

Both African giants will target the three points, but the Eagles of Mali are the ones pressed to get a victory as they are yet to beat the Indomitable Lions in an Afcon tournament.

The two sides have met twice, in a 1-1 draw in 1972 and Cameroon winning in 2002 by 3-0.

The Eagles finished in third place in 2012 and 2013 tournaments and will be looking to the experienced captain for leadership and inspiration, Seydou Keita.

The Serie A based player with Roma will be making his 100th appearance for the national side, a feat that makes him the first player to reach such a milestone.

However, to the Eagles boss, Henryk Kasperczak, the opening game is always very important to build up confidence for the rest of the competition.

“Cameroon are experiencing a transition phase with a new generation of players as Mali are,” said Kasperczak.

“Even if the two teams appear as favourites, all the fixtures in this Group will be crucial to qualify to the quarter-finals."

On the other hand, the Volker Finke-led side will miss the services of the captain, Stephane Mbia due suspension.

Mbia will be out due to suspension after receiving a red card against Cote d'Ivoire during the final match of the qualifiers, but he said it’s important they get ready for the tournament.

However, Mbia said they need to be well prepared for the tournament and also heaped praise on the German tactician.

“The Cameroon team is in a rebuilding stage, but we need to be well prepared for this 2015 Afcon finals which is very important for our country and for us players,” said Mbia.

“We are also here to prepare for the 2019 Afcon that will take place at home.

“He (Finke) has been able to impose his decisions and discipline which will be our strength in the coming years. We are all pulling in the same direction and if you have team-mates who are all prepared to work for each other – I think that shows what the mood within the squad is like.”

The match gets underway at Estadio de Malabo at 20:00 (Cameroon time).