AFCON 2025: Mali Fight Back to Draw With Hosts Morocco in Rabat

AFCON 2025: Mali Fight Back to Draw With Hosts Morocco in Rabat

Mali fought back to earn a 1–1 draw with host nation Morocco in Group A of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Rabat, a result that leaves the Atlas Lions on the verge of securing a place in the knockout stage.

The encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was dominated by two VAR-assisted penalty decisions, with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention playing a decisive role in the outcome.

Morocco took the lead deep into first-half stoppage time when Brahim Díaz converted a penalty after the ball struck the hand of Mali left-back Nathan Gassama, following a review by referee Abdou Abdel Mefire.

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Mali responded shortly after the hour mark when Lassine Sinayoko was fouled by Jawad El Yamiq inside the area. The striker calmly dispatched the resulting spot kick, squeezing the ball under goalkeeper Yassine Bounou despite loud whistles from the home crowd.

The Eagles were then forced to withstand late pressure, with goalkeeper Djigui Diarra producing a crucial leg save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri, before reacting sharply in stoppage time to prevent Woyo Coulibaly from diverting the ball into his own net.

The draw keeps Mali firmly in contention for an AFCON 2025 last-16 place, while Morocco, now on four points, remain top of Group A. Zambia and Mali both sit on two points, with Comoros bottom on one point following their goalless draw with Zambia earlier on Friday.

Group A concludes on Monday (19:00 GMT), with Morocco facing Zambia in Rabat, while Mali return to Casablanca to take on Comoros.

AFCON 2025: Mali Fight Back to Draw With Hosts Morocco in Rabat