Africa Cup Of Nations | Friday December 26 | Group A
- Morocco 1-1 Mali
- Zambia 0-0 Comoros
Mali refused to bend under the Rabat lights on Friday night, producing a calm and brave display to hold hosts Morocco to a 1-1 draw and delay their passage to the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Earlier in the day, Zambia were again frustrated, settling for a goalless draw with a disciplined Comoros side as Group A remained wide open.
At Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium, Morocco knew another win would almost guarantee progress.
They began on the front foot, with Brahim Diaz at the heart of everything.
In the 16th minute, he danced past two defenders and created space for a shot, only for Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra to deny him with a fine save.
The breakthrough came through controversy. Diaz drove into the box and the ball struck Nathan Gassama’s hand.
Play continued before VAR intervened, awarding Morocco a penalty. Diaz stayed composed, sending Diarra the wrong way to put the hosts ahead.
Morocco pushed after the break, eager to kill the game, but wastefulness crept in. Two good chances went begging, and Mali made them pay.
Just before the hour, Lassine Sinayoko was brought down in the area. The referee again waved play on, but VAR stepped in for a second time. Sinayoko took responsibility and calmly rolled the ball past Bono to level matters.
From there, Mali grew in belief. They pressed with confidence, disrupted Morocco’s rhythm and forced mistakes from a side that suddenly looked uncomfortable.
While they lacked the final touch to steal a famous win, Mali’s discipline and courage earned a valuable point.
Earlier at the Mohamed V Stadium, Zambia and Comoros played out a tense 0-0 draw. It was Zambia’s second consecutive stalemate after drawing with Mali, while Comoros picked up their first point following defeat to Morocco.
Zambia controlled possession but struggled to break down a compact Comorian defence. Patson Daka was kept quiet, and clear chances were rare.
Comoros, more cautious than in their opener, relied on quick breaks and midfield energy but also failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
The second half followed a similar script. Zambia searched for a winner, Comoros stayed organised, and neither side found the cutting edge required.
Group Standings | Group A
Last Group A Fixtures | Monday December 29, | 20:00
- Morocco Vs Zambia
- Comoros Vs Mali
