Morocco stayed top of Group A but were forced to settle for a point after Mali fought back to earn a 1–1 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) encounter decided by two VAR-awarded penalties.
Brahim Diaz put the Atlas Lions ahead deep into first-half stoppage time, calmly converting from the spot after a handball was spotted on review.
Mali responded after the break in similar fashion, with Lassine Sinayoko keeping his nerve to level matters and deny Walid Regragui’s side a second straight victory.
Diaz has now scored 2 goals in 2 games in his first AFCON. Photo Credit: Imago
The result leaves the host on four points from two matches, while Mali move to two points ahead of a decisive final round of group fixtures.
Morocco controlled large spells of the opening half, creating the clearer chances. Diaz was denied from close range by a fine save from Djigui Diarra, while Ayoub El Kaabi and Ismael Saibari both headed over from promising positions.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in first-half added time when VAR intervened to penalise a Mali handball inside the box. Diaz sent Diarra the wrong way, rolling his penalty low into the bottom corner to give the hosts a deserved lead at the interval.
Sinayoko has 2 goals to his name in the 2025 AFCON. Photo Credit: Imago
Mali emerged with renewed intent after the restart and were rewarded just after the hour mark. Another VAR review this time worked in their favour, with the referee pointing to the spot following a challenge in the area. Sinayoko made no mistake, firing past Bono to draw Mali level.
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Both sides pushed for a winner in a frantic final half-hour. Morocco piled on late pressure, Jawad El Yamiq heading narrowly wide and the Mali goalkeeper called into action from a series of corners, but Mali held firm through ten minutes of stoppage time.
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Morocco will now look to secure qualification when they face Zambia next, while Mali know victory against Comoros who claimed their first point earlier in the day could still send them into the knockout stages.
