Don’t miss any of the 2026 WAFCON action on beIN SPORTS

The match between Mali and Cape Verde will kick off at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT and will be available to watch LIVE on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS Connect.

Mali looks to bounce back after its opening match

Mali began its ninth WAFCON appearance with a 2-1 defeat against Cameroon, despite Aïssata Traoré’s penalty goal.

Birama Konaté’s side needs a positive result to avoid jeopardizing its chances of advancing to the next round. Mali has suffered three consecutive defeats in the tournament and has failed to win any of its last four matches in the competition.

However, its record in the second round of group-stage matches offers reasons for optimism. Four of Mali’s six victories in WAFCON history have come in its second group-stage match.

Will Mali be able to repeat that feat this time?

Cape Verde draws inspiration from a special memory

Cape Verde will look to bounce back after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Ghana in its historic WAFCON debut.

Despite its recent results, Cape Verde has an important precedent against its next opponent. The two teams met during qualifying for the 2026 WAFCON: Mali won the first leg 1-0 in Praia, but Cape Verde overturned the tie with a 4-2 victory in Bamako to advance 4-3 on aggregate.

That victory allowed Cape Verde to secure the first qualification in its history for the continental competition. Since then, the team has gone five matches without a win and has also failed to score during that period, making the recovery of its attacking threat one of its main challenges.

Don’t miss the match between Mali and Cape Verde, as well as all the 2026 WAFCON action, LIVE on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS Connect.