The Eagles of Mali face Ghana for match day 2 of the Africa Cup of Nations group D at Stade de Port Gentil on Saturday, 21st January 2017.

Mali shared spoils with Egypt in their first match of qualifiers and they will be in search of her first win of the group aganist Ghana, a side that struggled to beat Uganda in opening match.

The two teams rivally dates some years back and it will be a show of African colours when both teams fans land  at the small city of Gentil,Gabon.

At stake is a clear road to a march to quarter finals and this will be the seventh meeting of the both sides in recent years.

In the past meetings each team has claimed a good number of victory each.

The Malians  will have to go through a finger-chewing casting of lots to determine whether they will be placed second or third.

Ghana coach Avram Grant is expected to do small changes in the defence and in the midfield as his side had some struggles in the striking force and the defence.

The Black Stars will be giving a lot as defeat means a lot to them. Acheampong is expected to start in the place of injured Baba.

The former Chelsea coach is confident of his side’s chances having won their first encounter aganist Uganda by a solitary goal and feels his squad have braced themselves to face every challenge.

“Every game we’ll improve and that is really what is key. We had a few players in our squad who came into the preparations without having played much for their clubs. They were not in the best physical shape but they are getting fitter,” he told reporters.

“This is a tournament and every game is going to be different. Mali will pose a much different style to (that of) Uganda. But we played clever to win our first game and we must do it again.”said Grant in an interview.

Midfileder Adre Ayew , is likely not be available for selection after collecting an illness which is supected to be Malaria at the mosquito infected Port Gentil .

A confirmation from Grant after Friday’s pre-match press conference indicated that Ayew did not train fully with the squad on Thursday which prompted questions about his fitness for today’s match.

However Grant will be spoilt of choices for his first eleven having brought plenty of young players with him to Gabon but there is still experience in the ranks and almost all the team that started the 2015 final remains.

Malian coach will have a full squad to choose from as he prepares for this game.

Bakary Sako, the attacking midfielder who plays for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League will be the man two watch.He produced nice and sparking display in their first match aganist Egypty and he is expected to rumble this evening.

Coach Alain Giresse is now having his second stint with the Eagles.He lend them to third place in the 2012 edition.The Frenchman has also coached in Senegal,Ivory Coast,Morroco and Gabon

In an interview before the Group matches started ,Giresse indicated that his charges will put a brave fight aganist the black Stars.

“Everyone thinks Egypt and Ghana are the favorites of our group, and Mali an outsider. That makes sense,” Alain Giresse told Jeune Afrique.

“Ghana is very good both technically and collectively, although they have had some difficulties in 2016.

“But it will be very open. We have our chances, we will play them to the end. Mali finished third in 2012 and 2013? Let’s go through the
first round”, he said.

Mali are currently ranked 64th in the latest FIFA ranking with Ghana occupying postion 54th. Ghana have secured three wins and two draws having suffered two defeats from Mali in the past meetings.