Mali qualifies for the quarter-finals!
After an exciting match decided by penalty shootouts, they defeated Tunisia 3-2 on penalties.
A heroic performance, especially while playing most of the match with ten men.
A salute of respect and appreciation to Djigui Diarra and all the Mali national team players. What resilience! 🙌🏽 #AFCON2025
The Mali national team suffered an early blow in the Round of 16 match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after its defender, Youba Coulibaly, was sent off with a red card in the 26th minute of the first half, forcing the team to play with ten men until the end.
Despite this setback, the “Carthage Eagles” (Tunisia) managed to capitalize on the numerical advantage, taking a late lead in the 89th minute through Firas Chaouat, who scored with a powerful header from inside the penalty area.
However, the Malian team was awarded a crucial penalty in stoppage time after the ball struck the hand of Tunisian defender Yassine Meriah. Lassine Sinayoko converted the penalty into an equalizing goal, saving his team from defeat in original time.
The winner of the event-filled encounter was determined by a penalty shootout, where Mali clinched the victory with a score of (3-2) at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, thereby qualifying for the quarter-finals of the tournament.
It is worth noting that Mali has set a date in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to meet its Senegalese counterpart, who in turn defeated Sudan two goals to one in their match earlier on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, the Tunisian national team failed to break the Mali jinx in the Africa Cup of Nations, failing to achieve victory and exiting the tournament in great disappointment.
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