Ten-man Mali hold their nerve in AFCON knockout thriller
Mali reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Tunisia 3–2 on penalties following a dramatic 1–1 draw after extra time at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
Early red card leaves Mali facing uphill battle
The Eagles were reduced to ten men early in the contest when Woyo Coulibaly was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Hannibal Mejbri, forcing Mali to defend for more than 90 minutes.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Mali remained disciplined, absorbing pressure and frustrating a Tunisia side that struggled to break them down.
Tunisia strike late but Mali respond under pressure
Tunisia appeared to have sealed the contest when Firas Chaouat headed home in the 88th minute, sparking celebrations among Carthage Eagles supporters.
However, drama followed in stoppage time when a VAR review ruled that Yassine Meriah had handled the ball in the penalty area. Lassine Sinayoko stepped up and calmly converted, sending the tie into extra time.
Extra time delivers tension but no breakthrough
Both sides pushed for a winner during extra time, with the rain adding to the tension in Casablanca. Chaouat thought he had scored again for Tunisia, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
As fatigue set in, the match drifted towards penalties, with neither team able to find a decisive moment in open play.
Mali beat Tunisia on penalties
The shootout proved chaotic. Mali captain Yves Bissouma fired over the bar, while Nene Dorgeles struck the post, giving Tunisia early hope.
But goalkeeper Djigui Diarra emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. El Bilal Touré then calmly slotted home the winning spot kick to seal Mali’s place in the last eight.
Quarter-final clash with Senegal awaits
Mali will now travel to Tangier to face reigning champions Senegal in the quarter-finals on Friday, setting up a West African showdown between two of the tournament’s most resilient sides.
