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Tunisia and Mali battled for a abode in the quarter-finals, eventually afar by a affecting amends shoot-out
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After adjustment time and added time, Sinayoko’s stoppage-time amends (90 6’) annulled out Chaouat’s 88th-minute opener
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Mali will face Senegal in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025
Mali (1-1 aet, 3-2 pens) Tunisia Scorers: Lassine Sinayoko 90 6’ (pen) / Firat Chaouat 88’
Mali appointed their abode in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 afterwards acquisition Tunisia 3-2 on penalties afterward a hard-fought draw in adjustment time and added time (1-1).
In a physically ambitious battle, Tunisia were affected into an aboriginal change as apostle Dylan Bronn larboard the angle injured. Mali’s assignment became alike added difficult in the 27th minute back Wayo Coulibaly was apparent a red agenda for a ailing timed claiming on Hannibal Mejbri.
Despite their afterwards advantage, Tunisia bootless to appoint themselves afore the break, and the two abandon went into half-time bound at 0-0.
Played in a active atmosphere at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Tunisia alternate from the breach with renewed advancing intent. However, their efforts were afresh baffled by a well-organised Malian defence and an aggressive Djigui Diarra in goal.
The deadlock was assuredly burst in the 88th minute back Firat Chaouat rose accomplished to arch home Elias Saad’s cross, abrogation Diarra with no chance. Aloof as Tunisia looked set for victory, ball addled in abeyance time. A handball by Yassine Meriah in the amends breadth gave Mali a lifeline, and Lassine Sinayoko calmly acclimatized from the atom in the 90 6th minute to account his third ambition of the clash and force added time.
As had been the case for abundant of the match, added time produced little in the way of bright chances, and the challenge was absitively by a amends shoot-out. Mali accepted added composed from the spot, converting three penalties to Tunisia’s two, with Djigui Diarra already afresh arena a absolute role.
Mali will now face Senegal in the quarter-finals, afterwards the Teranga Lions anchored a 3-1 achievement over Sudan beforehand in the day.
Post-match reactions:
Djigui Diarra (Mali), TotalEnergies Man of the Match:
“From the alpha of the match, we knew it was activity to be difficult, abnormally afterwards one of our players accustomed a red card. We batten amid ourselves as players and the drillmaster gave us admired advice. The bout remained boxy appropriate through to the amends shoot-out. We formed actual adamantine to ability this result, and back it came to penalties, all the players said it was time to qualify. Personally, I was cerebration about the Malian people.”
Sami Trabelsi – Tunisia Arch Coach:
“It was a difficult match. Tunisia were in control, but abominably afterwards scoring, article incomprehensible happened and we fabricated a mistake. Of course, there is abundant disappointment and affliction afterwards Tunisia’s abolishment from the competition. A defeat charcoal a defeat, alike if it comes via penalties. It is accurate that we could accept qualified, as our opponents played with ten men from the end of the aboriginal half, but it did not happen. The albatross for the accident lies with the coach, that is certain. The players gave aggregate they had in a bout we abundantly controlled, and we cannot accusation them.”
Tom Saintfiet – Mali Arch Coach: “I am appreciative of the goalkeeper and of all the players. Afore the match, I told them that they are champions. If we had played with 11 players, we ability accept had alike added advantages. Afterwards the red card, we remained calm and acclimatized to the situation, because football is additionally played with intelligence. We able actual able-bodied for the bout adjoin Tunisia, and the players knew absolutely what they were doing. We will face Senegal in the quarterfinals. Senegal will be the favourites, aloof as Morocco and Tunisia were in our antecedent matches. We accept a bright objective, which is to abide in the competition.”