Ten-man Mali showed remarkable resilience and composure to eliminate Tunisia in a dramatic AFCON 2025 Round of 16 encounter, battling to a 1–1 draw after extra time before edging a rain-soaked penalty shootout 3–2 in Casablanca.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations
4-3
Penalty Shootout
Match Report
Tunisia looked to have sealed the contest in regulation time when Chaouat struck his first goal of the tournament, a finish many believed would be the winner against a Malian side reduced to ten men. But Mali refused to surrender. Deep into stoppage time, a handball by Meriah inside the box handed the Eagles a lifeline, and Lassine Sinayoko kept his nerve under immense pressure, calmly converting from the spot to force extra time.
Extra time brought no further breakthrough as fatigue set in and heavy rain continued to pour over Casablanca. Chances were scarce, legs were heavy, and both defences held firm, pushing the tie to the lottery of penalties.
The shootout mirrored the drama of the match itself. Meriah stepped up to score Tunisia’s opening kick, but Yves Bissouma kicked out for Mali. Momentum swung again as fortunes reversed, before a tense sequence saw Tunisia score, Mali miss, then Tunisia fail while Mali found the net. The decisive moment arrived when Ben Ali’s effort was brilliantly saved by Diarra, allowing Toure to slot home the winning penalty and send Mali into the quarter-finals, completing a memorable night of courage and belief for the ten-man Eagles.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
12' Highlight from Mali vs Tunisia
26' Red Card! Woyo Coulibaly sent off
70' Match Event for Mali vs Tunisia
80' Highlight from Mali vs Tunisia
88' GOAL! Mali 0-1 Tunisia (Firas Chaouat)
95' Penalty Goal! Mali 1-1 Tunisia (Lassine Sinayoko)
Line-ups
Mali XI: Coulibaly, Djigui Diarra, Bissouma, Aliou Dieng, Abdoulaye Diaby, Lassine Sinayoko, Woyo Coulibaly, Amadou Dante, Ousmane Camara, Mamadou Sangaré, Mahamadou Doumbia
Subs: Mamadou Samassa, H.Traore, Ismael Diawara, Ibrahima Sissoko, Mamadou Fofana, Mohamed Camara, El Bilal Touré, Mamadou Camara, Fodé Doucouré, Dorgeles Nene, Nathan Gassama, Kamory Doumbia, Mamadou Doumbia, Gaoussou Diakité
Tunisia XI: F. Sassi, Ali Abdi, Skhiri, D. Bronn, Valery, Montassar Talbi, Aymen Dahmen, Hannibal, Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud, Ismaël Gharbi, Hazem Mastouri
Subs: A. Maâloul, Sliti, Seifeddine Jaziri, Nader Ghandri, Meriah, Mortadha Ben Ouanes, Firas Chaouat, Mohamed Ben Ali, Bechir Ben Said, Sebastian Tounekti, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Noureddine Farhati, Elias Achouri, Elias Saad, Adem Arous