How and Where to Watch Mali vs. Senegal at AFCON 2025 Quarterfinals

An immovable object meets an unstoppable force as Mali and Senegal collide for a place in the AFCON semifinals.

Click here to watch Nigeria vs Mozambique in the AFCON 2025 Quarterfinals on beIN SPORTS

What’s At Stake In This Quarterfinal

The first AFCON 2025 quarterfinal sees polar opposites going head-to-head in Tangier. Mali are the team that have yet to win a game in the tournament and needed penalties to advance to the next round. Senegal, meanwhile, have been swashbuckling and free-scoring, seemingly cruising toward the latter stages of the competition.

Despite all the statistics that predict an easy win for Senegal, Friday’s match—live on beIN SPORTS—is far from being decided before a ball is kicked.

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Mali’s Resilience vs. Senegal’s Firepower

While Mali have drawn all four of their matches after 90 minutes at AFCON 2025, they remain unbeaten. It is a team that rarely loses. At AFCON 2023, Mali also reached the quarterfinals and only fell to Ivory Coast in extra time. Senegal captain Sadio Mané acknowledged the challenge, stating: “Mali is one of the best teams in this tournament, so facing them is another challenge for us.”

Mali are defensively disciplined and tenacious, having come from behind to draw against Morocco and Tunisia. However, their main weakness has been goals, with just three scored in four matches—two of them from the penalty spot.

Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Round of 16 - Mali v Tunisia - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco - January 3, 2026 Mali players react during the penalty shootout REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Senegal’s Momentum And Familiar Surroundings

That contrasts sharply with Senegal’s attacking output. The Lions of Teranga have scored 10 goals in four games, with seven different players finding the net. Another advantage is familiarity: Senegal will once again play in Tangier, the city where they have contested all four of their AFCON 2025 matches so far.

Mané has warned that Senegal still have room to improve, noting that his side are “not at 100 percent yet but still winning games,” a message aimed at a Mali team hoping to pull off the biggest upset of the tournament.