Group E of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations took place from 16 to 24 January 2024. The group consisted of Tunisia, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia.
Mali and South Africa as the top two teams, along with Namibia as one of the four best third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.
Teams Draw position Team Zone Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2023 December 2023 E1 UNAF Group J winners 28 March 2023 21st 2021 Winners (2004) 29 28 E2 WAFU Group G winners 18 June 2023 13th 2021 Runners-up (1972) 49 51 E3 COSAFA Group K runners-up 28 March 2023 11th 2019 Winners (1996) 65 66 E4 COSAFA Group E runners-up 12 September 2023 4th 2019 Group stage (1998, 2008, 2019) 114 115 Notes
Standings
Matches All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).
Tunisia vs Namibia Tunisia and Namibia met for only the fourth time, and the first since 2007, while the previous two meetings came in 1997, as both nations were drawn into Group 2 of the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification; Tunisia won the previous three meetings, including the first two, which proved key for Tunisia qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which was at the time only its second successful qualification campaign.
Tunisia was the better team on paper but was forced to work hard to overcome consistent Namibian pressure, while Tunisia failed to make an impact despite their efforts. With two minutes of normal time remaining, the Namibians punished costly Tunisian misses. From Bethuel Muzeu's clinical delivery, Deon Hotto headed home past Bechir Ben Saïd to secure a shock win for Namibia.
The victory was Namibia's first at an Africa Cup of Nations and only the third time they had avoided defeat in a group-stage match. The previous two were a 1–1 draw in its group stage finale of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea on 28 January 2008, in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, and a 3–3 draw in only its second match at an Africa Cup of Nations, which came on 12 February 1998 in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, when Namibia led 2–0 and 3–1 against Angola, only to finish 3–3.
GK 22Bechir Ben SaïdRB 21Wajdi KechridaCB 3 Montassar TalbiCB 4 Yassine MeriahLB 12Ali MaâloulDM 17Ellyes SkhiriCM 5 Ali Ben Romdhane CM 10Anis Ben Slimane RW 7 Youssef Msakni (c)LW 27Elias Achouri CF 11Taha Yassine Khenissi Substitutions:FW 9 Haythem Jouini MF 14Aïssa Laïdouni FW 18Sayfallah Ltaief FW 19Bassem Srarfi Manager:Jalel Kadri GK 1 Lloyd KazapuaRB 22Ryan NyambeCB 21Lubeni HaukongoCB 12Kennedy AmutenyaLB 4 Riaan HanamubDM 18Aprocius PetrusRM 11Absalom IimbondiCM 19Petrus Shitembi CM 10Prins Tjiueza LM 7 Deon HottoCF 13Peter Shalulile (c)Substitutions:MF 6 Ngero Katua FW 9 Bethuel Muzeu Manager:Collin Benjamin Man of the Match:Deon Hotto (Namibia)
Assistant referees:Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya)Stephen Eleazar (Kenya)Fourth official:Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon)Video assistant referee:Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)Assistant video assistant referee:Ahmed Heerallal (Mauritius)
Mali vs South Africa Mali and South Africa met for the fourth time, and this was their third meeting ever in the Africa Cup of Nations. The first came in the 2002 African Cup of Nations, when Mali, the tournament hosts, defeated South Africa 2–0 in a quarter-final. The nations also met in the quarter-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, in which Mali advanced to the semi-finals via penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw in Durban, South Africa. South Africa missed three of four attempts during that penalty shoot-out, out victorious on penalties.
South Africa got a golden opportunity in the 16th minute when a foul by Sikou Niakaté on Evidence Makgopa gave South Africa a penalty, but Percy Tau missed. This proved to be costly for the South Africans, as Hamari Traoré scored a free kick in the 60th minute to give the West Africans the lead, before Lassine Sinayoko outmuscled Siyanda Xulu and struck home to secure Mali the win.
GK 16Djigui DiarraRB 2 Hamari Traoré (c) CB 5 Boubakar Kouyaté CB 6 Sikou Niakaté LB 17Falaye SackoDM 23Aliou Dieng CM 10Yves Bissouma CM 4 Amadou Haidara RW 25Lassine Sinayoko LW 26Kamory DoumbiaCF 20Sékou Koïta Substitutions:MF 11Lassana Coulibaly FW 19Fousseni Diabaté FW 9 Ibrahim Sissoko FW 27Dorgeles Nene MF 24Boubacar Traoré Manager:Éric Chelle GK 1 Ronwen Williams (c)RB 20Khuliso MudauCB 5 Siyanda Xulu CB 14Mothobi Mvala LB 6 Aubrey ModibaRM 10Percy TauCM 4 Teboho Mokoena CM 13Sphephelo Sithole LM 12Thapelo Maseko CF 11Themba Zwane CF 9 Evidence Makgopa Substitutions:FW 17Zakhele Lepasa FW 21Mihlali Mayambela MF 23Thapelo Morena Manager: Hugo Broos
Man of the Match: Amadou Haidara (Mali)
Assistant referees: Mahmoud Abo El Regal (Egypt) Ahmed Hossam (Egypt) Fourth official: Amin Omar (Egypt) Video assistant referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) Assistant video assistant referee: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)
Tunisia vs Mali Tunisia and Mali met for the 15th time, and the fourth time at an Africa Cup of Nations. In 2022, the nations met three times in three months. On 12 January 2022, the nations met at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to open Group F, and Ibrahima Kone's penalty kick in the 48th minute was the only goal of the match to give Mali the 1–0 victory. In March 2022, a spot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was at stake when Tunisia and Mali met; the difference was an own goal from Mali's Moussa Sissako in the first leg in Bamako, as Tunisia advanced to its sixth FIFA World Cup.
In addition, Tunisia, the hosts of the 1994 African Cup of Nations, kicked off the tournament with a 2–0 defeat to Mali in Tunis. The nations also met in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, with the teams playing to a 1–1 draw in Suez, Egypt, on 25 June 2019. Finally, the nations also met in the quarter-finals of the 2016 African Nations Championship, with Mali winning 2–1 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Tunisians fell behind from a clinical piece of play, as Kamory Doumbia delivered a brilliant pass before Lassine Sinayoko stroked into the far corner to give Mali the lead. Just ten minutes after Mali opened the scoring, Ali Abdi produced a run and a cut-back for Hamza Rafia to score the equalizer. However, this proved to be the final goal of the match.
GK 22Bechir Ben SaïdRB 21Wajdi KechridaCB 3 Montassar TalbiCB 4 Yassine MeriahLB 2Ali AbdiRM 27Elias Achouri CM 17Ellyes SkhiriCM 14 Aïssa Laïdouni LM 10Anis Ben Slimane CF 7 Youssef Msakni (c) CF 8Hamza Rafia Substitutions:FW 18Sayfallah Ltaief FW 19Bassem Srarfi MF 8Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane FW 24Seifeddine Jaziri Manager:Jalel Kadri GK 16Djigui DiarraRB 2 Hamari Traoré (c) CB 5 Boubakar Kouyaté CB 6 Sikou Niakaté LB 17Falaye SackoDM 8Diadie Samassékou CM 11Lassana Coulibaly CM 4 Amadou Haidara CF 25Lassine Sinayoko AM 26Kamory Doumbia CF 20Sékou Koïta Substitutions:FW 27Dorgeles Nene FW 19Fousseni Diabaté FW 18Youssoufou Niakaté MF 10Yves Bissouma FW 9Ibrahim Sissoko Manager:Éric Chelle
Man of the Match: Kamory Doumbia (Mali)
Assistant referees:Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola)Oliveira Lopes (Angola)Fourth official:Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)Video assistant referee:Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda)Assistant video assistant referee:Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)
South Africa vs Namibia South Africa and Namibia met for the 14th time, and this was their third meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations. The nations met in the group stage finale of the 1998 African Cup of Nations, with Benny McCarthy scoring four goals in 13 minutes in a 4–1 victory in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The nations also met at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, in which Bongani Zungu scored the only goal of the match; a 1–0 victory would prove vital as South Africa was the fourth-best third-place team in the tournament. Namibia and South Africa have played seven times in the COSAFA Cup, and Namibia had last defeated South Africa in 1999, which came during this competition.
Namibia was the first to make opportunities, but following a handball by Deon Hotto in an attempt to block Thapelo Morena, a penalty was given, and Percy Tau scored. The situation became increasingly more favorable for the South Africans when Themba Zwane clinically finished from a pass from Morena in the 25th minute. Zwane scored a solo goal after a run down Namibia's right flank in the 40th minute. South Africa sealed their win in the 75th minute, when Teboho Mokoena gave a perfect long ball to Thapelo Maseko before Maseko finished over the hapless Lloyd Kazapua to make it four.
GK 1Ronwen Williams (c)RB 20Khuliso MudauCB 18 Grant KekanaCB 14 Mothobi MvalaLB 6Aubrey ModibaCM 4Teboho Mokoena CM 13 Sphephelo Sithole RW 23Thapelo Morena LW 10 Percy TauCF 11Themba Zwane CF 9Evidence Makgopa Substitutions:MF 15Thabang Monare MF 12Thapelo Maseko FW 21Mihlali Mayambela FW 17Zakhele Lepasa MF 8Jayden Adams Manager: Hugo Broos GK 1 Lloyd KazapuaRB 22Ryan Nyambe CB 12Kennedy AmutenyaCB 21Lubeni HaukongoLB 4 Riaan HanamubDM 18Aprocius PetrusRM 11Absalom Iimbondi CM 19Petrus Shitembi CM 10Prins Tjiueza LM 7 Deon HottoCF 13Peter Shalulile (c)Substitutions:MF 6Ngero Katua FW 9Bethuel Muzeu MF 17Wendell Rudath MF 14Joslin Kamatuka Manager:Collin Benjamin
Man of the Match: Themba Zwane (South Africa)
Assistant referees:Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)Nouho Ouattara (Ivory Coast)Fourth official:Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda)Video assistant referee:Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)Assistant video assistant referee:Cumar Cartan (Somalia)
South Africa vs Tunisia Tunisia and South Africa met for the seventh time, and the fifth at the Africa Cup of Nations. The first meeting came on 3 February 1996, in the 1996 African Cup of Nations final, in which two goals from Mark Williams won South Africa, the tournament hosts, its first-ever continental title in front of 80,000 fans in Johannesburg. met each other for the first time since 2008, where Tunisia claimed the win. The nations also met three other times: 2000 in Accra, Ghana, when South Africa defeated Tunisia 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out to finish third in the tournament. Tunisia's Ali Zitouni scored twice, including an 89th-minute goal to force extra time, but missed the final penalty kick in the shootout; 2006 in Alexandria, Egypt, with Tunisia winning 2–0 in the teams' second match in the group stage, a result that confirmed South Africa's elimination from the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations with a match to spare; and 2008 in Tamale, Ghana, with Tunisia winning 3–1 in the teams' second match in the group stage.
The match was a largely dull affair as Tunisia proved too timid while South Africa was too reluctant to make convincing efforts as South Africa held the advantages at hand. However, with the match becoming increasingly dire for Tunisia, the Tunisians were forced to pour everything forward and, as a result, they almost fell to counterattack traps by South Africa, notably a failed effort by Sphephelo Sithole. Haythem Jouini had a chance but his nodd over from a glorious position went wide, as the result ended goalless, enough for South Africa but too late for Tunisia.
This was the first time since 2013 (ironically hosted by South Africa) that Tunisia were eliminated in the group stage.
GK 1Ronwen Williams (c)RB 20Khuliso Mudau CB 18 Grant KekanaCB 14 Mothobi MvalaLB 6Aubrey ModibaCM 4Teboho Mokoena CM 13 Sphephelo Sithole RW 23Thapelo Morena LW 10 Percy TauCF 11Themba Zwane CF 9Evidence Makgopa Substitutions:DF 2 Nyiko Mobbie FW 12Thapelo Maseko MF 15Thabang Monare FW 17Zakhele Lepasa Manager: Hugo Broos GK 22Bechir Ben SaïdRB 21Wajdi KechridaCB 3 Montassar TalbiCB 4 Yassine Meriah (c) LB 2Ali AbdiRM 8Hamza Rafia CM 17Ellyes Skhiri CM 14 Aïssa Laïdouni LM 10Anis Ben Slimane CF 27 Elias Achouri CF 24Seifeddine Jaziri Substitutions:FW 7 Youssef Msakni FW 18Sayfallah Ltaief FW 23Naïm Sliti FW 9 Haythem Jouini MF 5 Ali Ben Romdhane Manager:Jalel Kadri
Man of the Match: Themba Zwane (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nouha Bangoura (Senegal) Éric Ayimavo (Benin) Fourth official: Louis Houngnandande (Benin)