Mali vs Mozambique Prediction: Mali to run riot in this fixture

In the African Cup of Nations Qualification encounters, Mali will play Mozambique in Group I. Coming into this encounter, Mali won the only meeting between these teams in 2014. Will Mozambique have a chance in this one?

Mali were held to a goalless draw by Madagascar, the last out in a competitive encounter. However, with that draw, Mali have now failed to secure a win in three of their last matches, losing to Ivory Coast and Ghana in other encounters. In the meantime, their encounter against Nigeria ended in a 2-0 win while also defeating Mauritania on the road. In their last five matches, Mali scored six goals while conceding three. 

Mozambique secured a third-place finish in the last COSAFA Cup tournament. In the third-place encounter against Comoros, Mozambique needed a penalty win, which ended 1-3, after being held to a 2-2 at the end of regular time. In the meantime, Mozambique have lost only one game in recent encounters, coming against Namibia. However, they drew Eswatini and South Africa in that run while picking a 3-1 win over Botswana. 

Mali, over the years, has shown a lot of improvement in play, and they are the real deal here. Mozambique, despite their performance in the COSAFA Cup, do not look like a side that can compete in a game like this. With class in players and quality of play expected to be the decider in this game, a win for Mali at home without conceding is a good option.