Mali and Senegal have booked their places in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 after dramatic victories on Saturday, setting up a mouth-watering West African showdown in the last eight.
At the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Mali needed penalties to overcome Tunisia after a bruising 1-1 draw that stretched through extra time. Djigui Diarra emerged as the hero, producing crucial saves in a 3-2 shoot-out win after regulation time had ended level.
Mali’s task was made significantly harder midway through the first half when Wayo Coulibaly was sent off in the 27th minute for a mistimed challenge on Hannibal Mejbri. Tunisia, despite their numerical advantage, struggled to break down a disciplined Malian defence and the sides went into the break goalless.
The game came to life late on. Tunisia finally struck in the 88th minute when Firat Chaouat powered home a header from Elias Saad’s cross, seemingly sending the Carthage Eagles through. However, deep into stoppage time, Mali were handed a lifeline after Yassine Meriah was penalised for handball. Lassine Sinayoko calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 90+6th minute to force extra time and score his third goal of the tournament.
With little separating the sides in extra time, penalties were required. Mali showed greater composure from the spot, with goalkeeper Djigui Diarra once again decisive as Tunisia converted only twice.
“I was thinking about the Malian people,” said Diarra, who was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match. “We knew it would be difficult, especially after the red card, but as a group we believed we could qualify.”
Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi took responsibility for the defeat, admitting the late concession was costly, while Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet praised his players’ intelligence and resilience. “Football is also played with intelligence,” he said. “We stayed calm and adapted.”
Earlier in Tangier, Senegal confirmed their quarter-final place with a confident 3-1 comeback win over Sudan. Pape Gueye struck twice as the former champions recovered from an early shock to underline their title credentials.
Sudan stunned Senegal in the sixth minute when Aamir Abdellah curled home a fine counter-attacking goal. The response from the Lions of Teranga was swift and controlled. Gueye levelled matters in the 29th minute after Sadio Mané won possession in midfield, before curling home his second in first-half stoppage time following good work from Nicolas Jackson.
Senegal remained in control after the break, with Edouard Mendy producing a fine save to deny Sudan an equaliser early in the second half. Substitute Ibrahima Mbaye sealed the win in the 77th minute with a powerful finish, again set up by Mané.
The match also saw Mané make history. His two assists took him to nine AFCON assists, moving him clear at the top of the competition’s all-time assists chart, ahead of Yaya Touré.
“We showed great character after going behind,” said Gueye, who was named Man of the Match. “It was a collective effort and now we must prepare for an even tougher quarter-final.”
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw praised his players’ focus, while Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah expressed pride in his team’s performance despite elimination.
The results now set up a highly anticipated quarter-final between Senegal and Mali, with both sides full of confidence and momentum as the race for the AFCON 2025 title intensifies.
