Liberia vs Mali - Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification

A fascinating Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification chapter awaits on September 29, 2026 when Liberia take on Mali at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Manchester United drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain in their fourth pre-season fixture of the summer on Saturday.

Both Liberia and Mali will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification. Liberia's recent form is difficult to quantify, but the occasion itself should bring the best out of them. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the first round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Liberia favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas Mali are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. Andoni Iraola, like Luis Enrique, is a coach who demands that his players press high.

Star players on both sides will be eager to make their mark, and the individual duels across the pitch could go a long way to deciding the outcome. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Leeds are also looking to bring in another striker to provide cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, who both have patchy injury records.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. The club are understood to favour a profile closer to Aurelien Tchouameni or a Premier League‑proven alternative rather than Manu Kone.