Twenty six times Tanzania Premier League champions Young Africans Sports Club (commonly referred to as Yanga) goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saved post-match penalties for Mali to beat Tunisia 3-2 through post match penalties and book their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025.
The contest was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Mali proved more composed from the spot, converting three penalties to Tunisia’s two, with Djigui Diarra once again playing a decisive role.
After a barren first half, the 1991 Club ,African Cup of Champions Clubs winners, Club Africain forward Firat Chaouat rose to head high home Elias Saad’s cross, leaving Diarra with no chance.
Just as Tunisia looked set for victory, drama struck in stoppage time. A handball by Yassine Meriah ho plays as a defender for Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club Espérance de Tunis in the penalty area gave Mali a lifeline, and French Ligue 1 club Auxerre forward Lassine Sinayoko calmly converted from the spot in the 90+6th minute to score his third goal of the tournament and force extra time.
El Bilal Toure who plays as a striker for Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş scored the winning spot-kick for Mali’s Captain Yves Bissouma, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, blazed Mali’s first kick over the bar.
However, Tunisia’s Ali Abdi who plays as a left-back for French Ligue 1 club Nice missed is spot kick and Diarra’s saves from Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane allowed Mali to win it, when Toure, who had failed to score a penalty in the same stadium against Zambia in the group stage, stepped up to score.
Tom Saintfiet’s Mali advanced to a quarterfinal next Friday in Tangier against West African neighbours Senegal, after the 2022 champions came from behind to beat Sudan 3-1 earlier.
Earlier, Mali had defender Woyo Coulibaly sent off in the 26th minute at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Sami Trabelsi – Tunisia Head Coach: “It was a difficult match. Tunisia were in control, but unfortunately after scoring, something incomprehensible happened and we made a mistake. Of course, there is great disappointment and pain after Tunisia’s elimination from the competition. A defeat remains a defeat, even if it comes via penalties. It is true that we could have qualified, as our opponents played with ten men from the end of the first half, but it did not happen.
The responsibility for the loss lies with the coach, that is certain. The players gave everything they had in a match we largely controlled, and we cannot blame them.”
Tom Saintfiet – Mali Head Coach: “I am proud of the goalkeeper and of all the players. Before the match, I told them that they are champions. If we had played with 11 players, we might have had even more advantages. After the red card, we remained calm and adapted to the situation, because football is also played with intelligence. We prepared very well for the match against Tunisia, and the players knew exactly what they were doing.
We will face Senegal in the quarterfinals. Senegal will be the favourites, just as Morocco and Tunisia were in our previous matches. We have a clear objective, which is to remain in the competition.”
