In any given game, Sofas with imported armor would be awesome. But you're facing Camel Lancers, and Camel Lancers will just absolutely massacre the Sofas.

Once you have poison arrows on your archers, the Camel Lancers will really struggle against that.

Going for the Manjaniq is the way to go; the mass spread damage can clear up the massive chaff that Malians produce.

Those Manjaniqs are frankly a win condition. Malians really don't have a unit that can answer them except a heavy frontline of cavalry like Sofa.

Malians only get five population per house, so destroying their houses can pop cap them for a long time.