A win for either side would confirm their place in the quarter-finals of Africa's flagship competition that has already recorded big casualties, the first round exit of Senegal, Burkina Faso and Morocco.

In the absence of top Mali stars like Mahamadou Diarra, Momo Sissoko and Frederic Kanoute, who has quit international football, midfielder Seydou Keita has assumed bigger responsibilities.

Keita says Mali is driven to win again against Ghana.

"Ghana remain the favourites in our group, but the Black Stars are not unbeatable," maintained Keita.

"The objective is to play to our potentials and get a positive result on Saturday."

He added: "We have not achieved anything yet and in football, things can happen so fast and so our second game against Ghana will be a lot more decisive."