The curtain came down on Group A of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a tense, tactical battle between Comoros and Mali at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Monday night. Both teams entered the fray with everything to play for: Mali needed at least a point to guarantee their spot in the last 16, while Comoros faced a must-win scenario to keep their knockout dreams alive and emulate their historic run from CAN 2021. In the end, neither side could find a breakthrough, as the match finished in a hard-fought goalless draw that ultimately sent Mali through and left Comoros heartbreakingly short.
Heading into this decisive encounter, the group standings were finely poised. Morocco led the way with four points after two games, followed closely by Mali and Zambia, each with two, while Comoros trailed with a single point. The permutations were clear: a win would keep Comoros’ hopes alive, but a draw or defeat would see them bow out due to an inferior goal difference. Mali, meanwhile, needed to avoid defeat to ensure progression, though a victory would have been the ideal boost before the knockout rounds.
Team news ahead of kickoff provided intrigue on both sides. Comoros, managed by Stefano Cusin, had a full squad available and were expected to stick with the core of the side that had battled to a draw with Zambia. However, Cusin was not averse to tactical tweaks, having switched to a back three after their opening defeat to Morocco, and there was talk of further changes to inject energy and creativity into the attack. The main selection dilemmas revolved around the forward line, with Myziane Maolida and Faiz Selemani vying for a starting role. Yannis Kari was a doubt, and the final lineup saw Selemani handed a start in the number 10 role ahead of captain Youssouf M’Changama, a move that raised some eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Mali, under the guidance of Tom Saintfiet, also faced questions over their starting eleven. Yves Bissouma, the influential Tottenham midfielder and team captain, was gradually regaining match fitness after injury but had been replaced after 57 minutes in the previous match against Morocco. Saintfiet opted for four changes, most notably a reshuffled midfield, while Lassine Sinayoko was again entrusted as the focal point of the attack, supported by Bissouma and the lively Nene Dorgeles. The Eagles’ probable lineup featured Diarra in goal; W. Coulibaly, Diaby, O. Camara, and Gassama at the back; Sangaré, L. Coulibaly, Dieng, and Dorgeles in midfield; with Bissouma and Sinayoko leading the line.
From the first whistle, the match was a cagey affair, with both teams wary of making costly mistakes. The opening exchanges saw Comoros attempt to press high and disrupt Mali’s rhythm, while the Eagles looked to control possession and probe for openings. Clear chances were few and far between, with the first shot on target not arriving until the 42nd minute, when Mali’s Nene Dorgeles forced a save from Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor after capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Moments later, Mali’s Mohamed Camara tested Pandor again, this time from long range, but the Comoros shot-stopper was equal to the task.
Comoros’ best opportunity of the first half fell to Myziane Maolida, who found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area but got his feet tangled at the crucial moment, allowing the Mali defense to recover. The Coelacanths, for all their endeavor, struggled to create clear-cut chances, a theme that would persist throughout the match. According to Betfred Insights, Comoros had fashioned just three shots on target from 14 attempts in their two previous group games, and that lack of potency in front of goal was again evident.
The second half saw both sides make adjustments in search of a breakthrough. Mali nearly grabbed the lead ten minutes after the restart when Nathan Gassama’s fierce drive ricocheted off Kamory Doumbia’s shin, narrowly missing the post. The Eagles’ best spell of pressure followed, with Dorgeles and Sinayoko combining well but unable to find the finishing touch. For Comoros, substitute El Fardou Ben provided a spark off the bench, coming closest to breaking the deadlock with a left-footed strike from a tight angle that drew a superb one-handed save from Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
Drama unfolded in the dying minutes as VAR took center stage. Mali substitute Amadou Haidara was shown a straight red card with just two minutes of regular time remaining for a high challenge on M’Changama. Referee Alhadji Allaou Mahamat initially waved play on, but after consulting the pitchside monitor, he agreed with VAR that Haidara’s studs had endangered his opponent, leaving Mali to see out the final moments with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Eagles held firm, denying Comoros any late heroics.
Reflecting on the contest, it was clear that both teams were hampered by nerves and the magnitude of the occasion. "It was a hard-fought match, and both sides gave everything," said Mali coach Tom Saintfiet after the final whistle, as reported by BBC Sport. The tactical battle between Saintfiet and Cusin played out in midfield, with neither side able to fully impose themselves in the final third. The draw suited Mali, who finished Group A unbeaten with three points and secured a place in the last 16, where they will face the runners-up from Group C—Tunisia, Tanzania, or Uganda—back in Casablanca on Saturday, January 4, 2026, at 19:00 GMT.
For Comoros, the disappointment was palpable. Having gone unbeaten in qualification and dreaming of a repeat of their 2022 heroics, the Coelacanths fell just short, finishing with two points and missing out on one of the best third-place spots due to an inferior goal difference. Their campaign was marked by defensive resilience, including their first-ever AFCON clean sheet, but ultimately, a lack of cutting edge up front proved costly. As Foot Africa noted, "Comoros absolutely must win to keep their hopes alive for the next round, aiming to repeat their historic run from CAN 2021." This time, the fairytale ended at the group stage.
The result also had wider implications across the tournament. With Group A and Group B concluding, Benin, Sudan, and Mozambique all secured their places in the last 16 before their final fixtures, thanks to Comoros’ elimination. For Mali, the focus now shifts to the knockout rounds, where the return to form of key players like Yves Bissouma and the emergence of Nene Dorgeles as an attacking threat will be crucial. The Eagles will need to raise their game to go deeper in the competition, but they can take heart from their defensive solidity and unbeaten record in the group stage.
As the dust settles in Casablanca, Mali march on with their AFCON hopes intact, while Comoros are left to ponder what might have been. The drama, tactical intrigue, and moments of controversy from this encounter will linger long in the memory, as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to deliver compelling storylines on and off the pitch.
