Morocco and Mali played out a 1-1 draw on Friday night at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, leaving Group A finely balanced after the second round of matches at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
In a fast paced and physical contest, the hosts struck first just before halftime through a Brahim Diaz penalty, before Mali responded after the break with a spot kick converted by Lassine Sinayoko.
Mali started aggressively, pressing high and looking to exploit transitions early. Woyo Coulibaly tested the Moroccan defense within the opening minutes, while Yves Bissouma’s forward runs caused early problems. Morocco gradually settled, taking control of possession through Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari, but clear chances proved difficult to convert.
The breakthrough came in stoppage time of the first half. Diaz drove into the area and forced a handball from Mohamed Gassama. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, calmly dispatched by Diaz to give Morocco a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Morocco returned from the break with intent, backed by a packed home crowd. An early chance fell to Ayoub El Kaabi from a set piece, but his header missed the target. The tempo increased as challenges multiplied, with both sides collecting yellow cards.
Mali began to grow into the game and were rewarded when Sinayoko went down under pressure in the box. After brief protests, the referee again pointed to the spot. Sinayoko converted confidently to level the score.
Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Youssef En Nesyri came close for Morocco, while Mali focused on defensive organization to secure the point. Neither side managed a decisive breakthrough, keeping qualification hopes alive heading into the final group fixtures.
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