Japan vs Mali

Bordeaux’s Matmut Atlantique forms the backdrop for an exciting 2024 Olympic Games encounter between Japan and Mali.

Japanese captain Joel Fujita waxed lyrical about his side’s performance in a 5-0 demolition of Paraguay in their curtain-raising Olympic Games contest against Paraguay as Shunsuke Mito and Shota Fujio each bagged a brace to inspire Japan to an emphatic victory. Another win against Mali would seal Japan’s progression with a game to spare, and another quick-fire start would bode well. Go Oiwa’s team opened the scoring against Paraguay in the 18th minute, yet their four remaining goals in that victory came after the break. After getting their record eighth consecutive Olympic appearances off to a flyer, the U23 Asian Cup winners are confident of reaching the quarter-finals, just as they’ve done in two of their last three attempts, finishing fourth on each occasion.

In the meantime, Mali’s opening Group D outing was anything but straightforward, as they had to fight back to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw against Israel. Despite maintaining their hopes of securing a podium finish, Mali’s bid to make it out of the groups could be wishful thinking in what is only their second appearance in Olympic football since advancing to the quarter-finals in 2004. The African nation’s dream of taking home a medal isn’t unfounded, considering they claimed the bronze in the 2023 African Cup to book their place at the Paris Olympics. A large chunk of the Mali squad is familiar with European surroundings, with 12 of Alou Badra Diallo’s players plying their trade in Europe and four featuring in France.