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2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Quarter-finals
Mali v Ivory Coast
Stade de la Paix
Bouake, Ivory Coast
Saturday, 3 February 2024
Kick-off is at 17h00
Ivory Coast will be hoping to keep their unbeaten record against Mali intact when they face off in the
2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the Stade de la Paix on Saturday, February 3.
The Eagles have yet to beat to the Elephants in seven attempts and lost three of their four meetings at the continental showpiece, with their most recent encounter seeing the Ivorians triumph 1-0 in the last 16 of the 2019 edition.
Emerse Fae's side only just scraped into the knockout stages as hosts after registering one win and two losses in Group A as they pipped Ghana and Zambia on goal difference as one of the four best third-placed teams.
The Elephants then dug deep to eliminate defending champions Senegal 5-4 on penalties in the round of 16 following a 1-1 draw after extra time, with Franck Kessie's 86th-minute spot-kick having cancelled out Habib Diallo's fourth-minute opener for the Lions of Teranga.
Mali remain unbeaten in the tournament after they sent Burkina Faso packing courtesy of a 2-1 victory in the last 16 on January 30. It was the first time since 2013 that they had won a knockout game.
Eric Chelle's side had topped Group E with four points, winning 2-0 against South Africa first up before claiming to back-to-back draws with Tunisia (1-1) and Namibia (0-0).
Fae admitted they will savour the win against their West African rivals, but insists there is still have plenty to be done if they want to go all the way on home soil.
"We're definitely not going to get excited," the former Ivory Coast international said. "We are going to savour the win and get back to work.
"We have come so far. We are going to continue to work on our solidity. We need to keep this state of mind which will give us the strength to perhaps go for the title."
Chelle acknowledges Ivory Coast will present their toughest challenge yet at the African spectacle, but believes there is enough quality in his team to get the desired result in Bouake.
"We know that it will be difficult against them, but we will bring our quality and give it our best against them," he said.
Mali v Ivory Coast Head-to-Head:
Matches - 7
Mali wins - 0
Ivory Coast wins - 5
Draws - 2
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