Nigeria face Mali in their second international friendly in Marrakesh, Morocco of the March 2024 international break.
The Super Eagles defeated Ghana 2-1 last Friday in a positive result and performance for interim head coach Finidi George, the former Ajax and Real Betis winger who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
George will hope for a similar outcome against Mali on Tuesday, Les Aigles having beaten Mauritania 2-0 last week. Although 19 places separate these sides in the FIFA rankings, Mali have plenty of firepower to pose problems for Nigeria, not least through striker El Bilal Toure, a player desperate to rediscover top form and fitness after an injury-plagued season with Atalanta in Serie A.
The Sporting News will provide live score updates from the match between Nigeria and Mali below.
MORE: A recap of Nigeria’s narrow victory over 10-man Ghana
Nigeria vs Mali live score
| 1st Half | Goal scorers | |
| Nigeria | 0 | |
| Mali | 0 |
Confirmed lineups:
Nigeria (3-4-3, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Omeruo, Ajayi, Awaziem — Osayi-Samuel, Iwobi, Ndidi, Collins — Iheanacho, Nwadike, Moses
Mali (4-3-3, right to left): Samassa (GK) — Traore, Kouyate, Sagnon, Guindo — Haidara, Coulibaly, Samassekou — K. Doumbia, Toure, Sinayoko
MORE: When and where is the next AFCON?
Nigeria vs Mali stats and head-to-head
This will be the 12th meeting between these nations. Nigeria have the head-to-head advantage, with six wins and just two defeats in those previous games.
Indeed, Mali’s most recent win over the Super Eagles was a 4-1 friendly victory way back in 1975.
| Nigeria wins | Draws | Mali wins |
| 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Biggest victory | Biggest victory | |
| 4-1 (AFCON, 2013) | 4-1 (Friendly, 1975) |
Nigeria vs Mali kick off time
This international friendly kicks off at 9 p.m. local time in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Here is how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Tues, Mar. 26 | 5 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Tues, Mar. 26 | 5 p.m. ET |
| UK | Tues, Mar. 26 | 9 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Weds, Mar. 27 | 8 a.m.. AEDT |
| India | Weds, Mar. 27 | 2:30 a.m. IST |
Nigeria vs Mali lineups, team news
Finidi George has been hamstrung by injuries in this international break to key stars including Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, and Zaidu Sanusi. Midfielder Frank Onyeka has also withdrawn from the squad.
He has rotated a little from the team that started against Ghana. Experienced centre-back Kenneth Omeruo comes in, while Wilfred Ndidi starts in midfield.
Nigeria (3-4-3, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Omeruo, Ajayi, Awaziem — Osayi-Samuel, Onyedike, Ndidi, Collins — Moses, Iheanacho, Moses
Nigeria subs: Uzoho, Ojo, Tanimu, Lookman, Dessers, Umar, Tella, Dele-Bashiru, Onyemaechi, Yusuf
Mali were 2-0 winners over Mauritania in their previous match, but this will represent a sterner test of their qualities.
Mali (4-3-3, right to left): Samassa (GK) — Traore, Kouyate, Sagnon, Guindo — Haidara, Coulibaly, Samassekou — K. Doumbia, Toure, Sinayoko
Mali subs: Diarra, Sacko, Fofana, Maiga, M. Doumbia, Diaby, Diambou, Sylla, Dorgelles, Diabate, Niakate, Sissoko
Nigeria vs Mali live stream, TV channel
This match is not widely available to watch in major English-language territories, but international customers of bet365 should be able to follow a live stream from the stadium in Morocco.
