Mali will begin their TotalEnergies CAF Cup of Nations campaign on Tuesday when they play South Africa in their Group E on Tuesday at the tournament in Cote d'Ivoire. Ahead of the match, CafOnline.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures of the two sides below:

This will be the third encounter between Mali and South Africa at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The two previous meetings saw Mali prevail, both times in the quarter-finals: 2-0 in the 2002 edition and on penalties in 2013 (1-1 after extra-time, 3-1 on penalties).

This is Mali’s 13th participation in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, including their ninth in a row; no side has played as many games as Mali (54) at AFCON without ever winning the trophy. Their best performance dates back to 1972 – Mali lost 3-2 in the final against Congo.

? Mali have never lost their opening game at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (W7 D5). However, they have also never won consecutive matches at a single tournament since 2004.

 Only Nigeria (22) scored more goals than Mali (15) in the qualifiers for this year’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations whilst only Tunisia (1) conceded fewer (2 pour les Aigles).

Four of Mali’s last nine goals at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations have been scored from the penalty spot. The last three penalties were all converted by Ibrahima Koné in the 2021 edition.

This is South Africa’s 11th participation in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and their first since 2019. Their only AFCON title dates back to 1996, as hosts.

South Africa reached the final four of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in each of their first three participations (1st in 1996, 2nd in 1998, 3rd in 2000). Since then, they have never progressed further than the quarter-finals, winning only three of their last 20 matches (D7 L10).

South Africa have never scored more than one goal in their last nine matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The last time they did was against Morocco in the 2013 group stages (2-2).

Among the 24 teams that will feature in Côte d'Ivoire, none conceded more goals per game than South Africa in CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 qualifiers (1.5 per game, 6 in 4 games).

Moussa Doumbia has assisted Mali’s last three goals scored in open play at the African Cup of Nations. He’s scored six goals for the Mali national team, more than any other player in the squad for the 2023 AFCON.

South Africa boss Hugo Broos is taking part in his second CAF Africa Cup of Nations as manager – he led Cameroon to the trophy in 2017.