Morocco And Mali Battle To Dramatic Africa Cup Draw

Morocco and Mali squared off in a tense, high-stakes Group A clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 26, 2025, with both sides eyeing advancement in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions, riding high after a 2-0 win over Comoros, entered the match atop the group with three points. Mali, meanwhile, sat in third with a single point following a 1-1 draw against Zambia. The stakes? A win for Morocco would have punched their ticket to the Round of 16, while Mali needed at least a draw to stay in the hunt.

Kickoff was at 9:00 p.m. local time, and anticipation buzzed through the stadium as the starting lineups were revealed. Morocco, led by coach Walid Regragui, made several tactical tweaks from their opening match. With captain Romain Saïss sidelined due to injury, Jawad El Yamiq stepped in to partner Nayef Aguerd at the heart of the defense. The flanks were anchored by Achraf Mazraoui and Anass Salah-Eddine, offering both solidity and attacking thrust.

In midfield, Abdelhamid El Aynaoui got the nod over Neil El Aynaoui, joining Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi. Up front, the energetic Ayoub El Kaabi replaced Soufiane Rahimi, forming a fresh attacking trio with Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari. The confirmed Moroccan lineup read: Bono in goal; Mazraoui, Aguerd, El Yamiq, Salah-Eddine in defense; Ounahi, Amrabat, Saibari in midfield; and Díaz, El Kaabi, El Aynaoui leading the line.

Mali’s coach responded with a robust lineup of his own. Djigui Diarra was between the sticks, shielded by defenders Coulibaly, Camara, Dieng, Diaby, and Gassama. The midfield featured Bissouma, Kamory Doumbia, and another Coulibaly, while the attack was spearheaded by Sangare and Sinayoko. The Eagles were determined to make a statement after their opening stalemate.

Fans across the globe tuned in, with broadcast coverage spanning beIN SPORTS in the United States, fuboTV and beIN SPORTS in Canada, and Channel 4 in the UK. The stakes, the talent, and the atmosphere combined for an electric pre-match buzz. Notably, there was speculation that PSG superstar Achraf Hakimi might make his tournament debut after missing the opener through injury, but ultimately, the confirmed lineup did not feature him.

The match kicked off with Morocco pressing early, seeking to capitalize on their momentum. The first half saw both teams probing cautiously, wary of conceding an early blow. The breakthrough came when Morocco earned a penalty after a handball by Mali’s Nathan Gassama. The referee, after a VAR check, pointed to the spot. Brahim Díaz stepped up and coolly slotted his right-footed shot to the bottom left corner, sending the home fans into raptures. Morocco led 1-0, and the stadium erupted.

Mali, however, refused to be cowed. They regrouped and began to assert themselves, with Sinayoko and Sangare testing the Moroccan defense. The first half closed with Morocco holding the narrow lead, but the game was far from settled. Both coaches made tactical adjustments at halftime, with Mali looking to inject more pace and Morocco seeking to consolidate their advantage.

The second half opened with a flurry of activity. Mali pressed higher up the pitch, and the physicality increased. Fouls and yellow cards punctuated the action, with the referee keeping a tight grip on proceedings. Mali’s persistence paid off midway through the half. Lassine Sinayoko, always a threat, drew a foul in the Moroccan penalty area after a clumsy challenge by Jawad El Yamiq. The referee, after another VAR review, awarded Mali a penalty.

Sinayoko himself took responsibility, firing a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner past Bono, leveling the score at 1-1. The equalizer set up a dramatic final stretch, with both teams pushing for a decisive goal. Substitutions came thick and fast: Morocco introduced Eliesse Ben Seghir, Soufiane Rahimi, Bilal El Khannouss, Abde Ezzalzouli, and Youssef En-Nesyri to inject fresh legs and ideas. Mali responded with changes of their own, including Dorgeles Nene and Kamory Doumbia, the latter entering due to an injury to Mahamadou Doumbia.

The closing stages were frantic. Morocco pressed for a winner, earning a series of corners and free kicks. Eliesse Ben Seghir saw a right-footed shot from outside the box saved by Mali’s Diarra, who was in inspired form. Youssef En-Nesyri narrowly missed with a header, and attempts by Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd were blocked or sailed wide. Mali, for their part, threatened on the break, with Gaoussou Diarra and El Bilal Touré causing anxious moments in the Moroccan defensive third.

The referee announced a whopping 10 minutes of added time, a nod to the numerous injury stoppages and substitutions. Both sides threw caution to the wind, but neither could find the breakthrough. The match ended 1-1, a result that keeps Group A finely poised heading into the final round of fixtures.

Discipline was a theme throughout, with yellow cards shown to players on both sides: Dorgeles Nene, Kamory Doumbia, Djigui Diarra, Lassine Sinayoko, Aliou Dieng, Nayef Aguerd, Woyo Coulibaly, Mahamadou Doumbia, Ousmane Camara, and others all entered the referee’s book. The physicality and commitment on display were a testament to what was at stake.

Coach Walid Regragui’s tactical adjustments were evident, especially in the fluidity of Morocco’s attack and the resilience shown after conceding the equalizer. The absence of captain Romain Saïss was felt, but El Yamiq and Aguerd marshaled the defense admirably despite the pressure. For Mali, Djigui Diarra’s heroics in goal and Sinayoko’s clinical finish were standout contributions.

With this result, Morocco remains atop Group A with four points, while Mali stays in contention with two. The group is wide open, and the final matchday promises high drama as teams vie for a coveted spot in the knockout rounds. Will Morocco’s tactical discipline carry them through? Or can Mali build on this spirited performance to upset the odds? The Africa Cup of Nations continues to deliver, and fans will be glued to their screens for the next chapter.