Group A runners up Mali faced Group C runners up Tunisia in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. After a dramatic contest that ended 1-1 following extra time, Mali went on to win 3-2 on penalties thanks to the heroics of Young Africans goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
This was the 16th meeting between the two sides. Tunisia had previously won seven of the 15 encounters, Mali had won five, while three ended in draws.
The match began with an early setback for Tunisia in the 11th minute when Dylan Bronn went down off the ball with what looked like a muscle injury. He was replaced moments later by Yassine Meriah. Tunisia then created the first real chance when Ismael Gharbi fired narrowly wide from distance.
The game took a major turn in the 28th minute when Woyo Coulibaly was sent off for a late tackle on Hannibal Mejbri, leaving Mali with ten men for more than an hour. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Mali held firm until halftime, surviving a late Tunisia chance that was ruled out for a foul.
In the second half Mali dropped into a compact 4-4-1 shape while Tunisia pushed forward in search of a breakthrough. Nene Dorgeles tried his luck from range in the 63rd minute but fired well over. Elias Saad also went close with a weaving run and low effort in the 82nd minute that failed to trouble Diarra.
Tunisia’s pressure finally told in the 88th minute when Firas Chaouat rose brilliantly to glance a header into the bottom corner. His timing was perfect and the goal stood. With only minutes remaining it looked like Tunisia were heading through.
But deep into stoppage time the referee awarded Mali a penalty for handball against Meriah after a free kick struck his arm. Following VAR confirmation, Lassine Sinayoko stepped up in the 96th minute and sent Aymen Dahmen the wrong way to level the match at 1-1 and force extra time.
Extra time was tense and cagey. Tunisia thought they had scored early in the second period when Chaouat finished a cutback, but VAR ruled the effort offside. In the dying moments Ibrahim Sissoko volleyed over from close range, meaning penalties would decide the tie. It was the first shootout of the tournament.
In the shootout Meriah scored confidently for Tunisia before Mali captain Yves Bissouma blazed over. Ali Abdi then also fired high for Tunisia. Sinayoko calmly scored for Mali, Saad replied for Tunisia, and Dorgeles struck the post. Diarra then saved from Elias Achouri to keep Mali alive.
Diakhite converted for Mali, putting the pressure on Tunisia’s Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane whose penalty was saved again by the outstanding Diarra. El Bilal Toure stepped up with the chance to win it and did just that, sending Dahmen the wrong way to complete a remarkable comeback.
Mali advanced 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and will now face Senegal in the quarter finals. Tunisia, who had enjoyed their numerical advantage for over an hour, crashed out of the competition.
Before this match the teams had met four times previously at the Africa Cup of Nations group stage, with Mali unbeaten in those fixtures. This first ever knockout meeting produced another chapter of drama, resilience, and penalty shootout heroics as Mali march on.
