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Déjà vu galore as Ghana, Mali cross paths again

The Black Stars hope to be third time lucky with a win against Mali in the Group phase of an AFCON in the last five years.

That game was played in Franceville, Gabon.

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On Saturday, the Black Stars will face The Eagles in another second group game yet again in Gabon, albeit this time in Port Gentil rather than Franceville, at the ongoing AFCON 2017.

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Interestingly, it will be the third Ghana-Mali game in the second match day of an AFCON since 2012: the two sides also met at the same stage in South Africa during the 2013 AFCON, a game which Ghana narrowly won by a goal to nil.

READ MORE: AFCON 2017

Ghana go into this year's game hoping to build on an opening day 1-0 win over Uganda, a result that put them on top of Group D following Mali's goalless draw with Egypt.

Avram Grant will be without left back Baba Rahman, who picked up a knee injury against the Cranes and will be flying back to his club Schalke 04 in Germany for treatment. Despite picking up all three points against Uganda, the Israeli admitted that his side "can play better" amid a generally unconvincing performance, and is hoping to see an improvement against the Malians.

READ MORE: AFCON 2017

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Mali will be looking for a win to protect their chances of making it past the group stage. The 1972 silver medallists suffered a humiliating first round exit at their last tournament in Equatorial Guinea two years ago.

Their coach, French football legend Alain Giresse, has disagreed with the popular view that Ghana and Egypt are shoo-in to make the knockout round, saying his side are strong enough to be considered among the league of favourites.

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"Everybody thinks that Ghana and Egypt are the toughest in the group and will easily qualify to the second round, everybody thinks Mali is already out of the competition,” he said. "Let's not forget that we won third place in 2012 and 2013."

Interestingly, both times Mali won those bronze medals, they beat Ghana in the third/fourth play-off: 2-0 in 2012 and 3-1 in 2013.

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This makes Ghana and Mali familiar AFCON foes, with four meetings alone since 2012, both teams winning two apiece.

Giresse, 64, admits that Ghana "is a good team" that "possesses strong individual and tactical capabilities," but says his Eagles will "play to win".

The game kicks off at 16:00 GMT at the Stade de Port Gentil.

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