Madagascar was the surprise team of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, reaching the quarterfinals in their first-ever appearance in the tournament.
Mali has a strong footballing history, with their national team consistently among the top-ranked teams in Africa.
Madagascar has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, while Mali has qualified once in 1972 but failed to advance past the group stage.
In their previous meeting in the Africa World Cup Qualification, Madagascar defeated Mali 2-2 on aggregate in the second round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Both Madagascar and Mali have a number of players who compete in top European leagues, including Ligue 1, Serie A, and the Premier League.
Madagascar and Mali are both known for their passionate fan bases, with football being a major source of national pride and unity in both countries.