Mali and Comoros wrapped up their Group A campaigns at the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with a tense 0-0 draw at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca. The result leaves Mali unbeaten after three matches with three successive draws, while Comoros are still without a victory, having collected two draws and one defeat in the group.
The teams had only previously faced each other in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, when Mali won both encounters 3–0, but this time Comoros produced a far more resolute display. The opening half featured few clear chances, although Comoros offered an early threat in the 11th minute when Yannis Kari struck a left-footed effort from a tight angle on the right that flashed just wide following a corner routine.
Mali gradually grew into the contest and carved out their best moments shortly before the interval. In the 41st minute, Dorgeles Nene fired a powerful left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, forcing Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor into a sharp save down to his bottom left. Moments later, Mohamed Camara tested Pandor again with a right-footed drive from distance, but the keeper was equal to it, gathering the effort cleanly in the centre of his goal.
The second half began with Mali pushing hard for a breakthrough. Five minutes after the restart, Yves Bissouma tried his luck from outside the area after a set-piece situation, but his right-footed effort drifted wide of the left post. Comoros responded midway through the half with a dangerous moment of their own when El-Fardou Ben cut in from the left and forced Djigui Diarra into an excellent save beneath the crossbar in the 65th minute. Soon after, Faïz Selamani went for goal from long range, but his right-footed attempt sailed high and wide.
Mali continued to search for a winner late on, with Mamadou Sangaré getting on the end of a cross from Nathan Gassama in the 82nd minute, only to fire over the bar from the centre of the box. Despite both sides pushing forward in the closing stages, neither team could produce the decisive finish, and the match ended in a goalless stalemate.
The result sees Mali finish second in Group A with three points from their three draws, advancing to the knockout phase unbeaten. Comoros end the group stage in third place with two points and will now rely on results from other groups to determine whether they progress as one of the four best third-placed teams.
