Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Group A
Morocco v Mali
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Rabat, Morocco
Friday, 26 December 2025
Kick-off is at 22h00
Morocco will be looking to extend their record winning streak to 20 matches when they take on Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Friday, December 26.
The Atlas Lions surpassed Spain's record of 15 consecutive wins when they beat Congo 1-0 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on October 14 before adding to that run with friendly victories against Mozambique (1-0) and Uganda (4-0) last month.
Walid Regragui's side then defeated Comoros 2-0 in their AFCON 2025 opener on December 21 which maintained another record of a host nation not losing their first game of the tournament for the last 16 editions.
The North African giants are also unbeaten in their last 34 matches on home soil (30 wins and four draws) since their loss to Cameroon in 2009.
Mali went undefeated in qualifying too, winning four of their six games to finish three points ahead of Mozambique in Group I, having only dropped points against the Mambas (a 1-1 draw) and Guinea-Bissau (a 0-0 draw).
Tom Saintfiet's side only played one friendly last month to prepare for the continental showpiece, drawing 0-0 with Jordan, and they kicked off their Group A campaign with a 1-1 stalemate against Zambia on December 22.
The Eagles went on step further than Morocco in the 2023 edition by reaching the quarter-finals and the two teams last met on Africa's biggest stage in 2004 when the Atlas Lions ran out 4-0 in victors in the semi-finals.
Regragui hailed the importance of getting off to a positive start as hosts and was pleased to see a reaction from his players in the second half after they struggled to open up the Coelacanths in the opening 45 minutes.
"It's never easy to start a tournament. The opening match is always tough. We did the job. We controlled the game in the first half but didn't create enough chances," he said.
"There was a lack of presence in the box. We reverted to some of our faults. We fixed that in the second half with the substitutions and the intensity we showed in the first half.
"As soon as we scored our two goals, we rook control. It's a good sign. It was important to win the first match in front of our supporters. It's a great way to start the tournament."
Head-to-Head: (Last Five Matches)
Matches - 5
Morocco wins - 3
Mali wins - 1
Draws - 1
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