Mali v South Africa: Doumbia looks the goal value in 9/2 Bet Builder

• Doumbia has scored 6 in his last 10 internationals

• Mali in form having won 10 of last 13

• Back Bet Builder at 9/25.50 v South Africa

• Read about Betfair's new 90 Minute Payout offer here

Mali v South Africa
Tuesday 16 January, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event

Kamory Doumbia looks a player worth following at the Africa Cup of Nations and with his Mali team making their entrance to the tournament on Tuesday, let's get stuck in straight away.

Leg 1: Kamory Doumbia to score

A man who likes to play in the 'number 10' role behind the centre forward and in front of the midfield, Doumbia has scored six goals in his 10 international appearances since the start of 2023, those goals spread out across five games.

His most recent came in last week's 6-2 friendly demolition of fellow AFCON qualifiers Guinea-Bissau but filter things down to competitive games and he's bagged five in five.

Doumbia also comes into the tournament off the back of a four-goal haul for Ligue 1 side Brest, with whom he is on loan from Reims.

It all makes 7/24.50 about him finding the net look rather on the large side and certainly worth backing.

Admittedly South Africa's games have had some pretty low goal tallies of late but that's been a lot to do with their struggle for goals. Burnley forward Lyle Foster's decision not to play hardly helps on that front.

Bafana Bafana have won only two of their last eight games ahead of this tournament, being held to a goalless draw by Lesotho in last week's warm-up friendly and prior to that going down 2-0 in Rwanda in World Cup qualifying.

Neither of those sides has qualified for this event.

Leg 2: Mali to win

In contrast, Mali arrive in the Ivory Coast as dark horses having won 10 of their 13 games since narrowly missing out on a place at the 2022 World Cup, losing a play-off over two legs against Tunisia.

In qualifying, only Nigeria outscored Mali, while only Tunisia conceded fewer goals.

They have lost striker Ibrahima Kone to injury, although he was hardly missed last week by a team featuring Spurs' Yves Bissouma. And Kone's absence arguably only strengthens the case for a Doumbia goal given others will need to step up.

The Doumbia single looks very appealing but with Bet Builder required in this column, let's add that to a Mali win with double paying around 9/25.50.

More AFCON: James Eastham's in-depth day four preview!