Mali to Clash with Senegal in AFCON Quarter-Final

Mali is set to take on Senegal in the opening quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following their tense victory over Tunisia in a penalty shootout. This thrilling match featured numerous interventions from VAR and sparked controversy due to decisions made by referee Abongile Tom.

Key Incidents in the Match

Mali entered the game without midfielder Amadou Haidara, who was suspended after receiving a red card during their final group match against Comoros. Matters worsened when Woyo Coulibaly was sent off with a direct red card before the 30-minute mark in this knockout match.

Tunisia Takes the Lead Late

Despite struggling to find their rhythm, Tunisia managed to score late in the game. Elias Saad, who replaced teammate Ismaël Gharbi from Augsburg, assisted Firas Chaouat, whose brilliant header put Tunisia ahead in the 88th minute.

Late Drama as Mali Equalizes

However, Mali equalized shortly after Tunisia’s goal. In injury time, a handball by Yassine Meriah led to a penalty kick for Mali. Lassine Sinayoko calmly converted the spot-kick, marking his third goal of the tournament and pushing the game into extra time.

Penalty Shootout Success

The match ended with no further goals, leading to a penalty shootout where Tunisia was unable to craft significant chances. Saad successfully scored his penalty, but Mali triumphed in a low-scoring shootout, with El Bilal Touré, a former Stuttgart player, netting the winning shot for the Eagles.

Squad Updates for Upcoming Match

Haidara will be eligible to play in the upcoming quarter-final against Senegal, yet Mali will miss three crucial players due to suspensions. Alongside the Augsburg pair Gharbi and Saad, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ellyes Skhiri and Bochum’s Ibrahima Sissoko were also involved in the intense match.

Haidara’s return comes just in time as he will likely participate in the first Bundesliga game of the year next Friday when Frankfurt faces Borussia Dortmund. Similarly, Gharbi and Saad are expected to be available for Augsburg’s match against Mönchengladbach.

Upcoming AFCON Matches

The Round of 16 continues tomorrow with Morocco, the host nation, going head-to-head with Tanzania, followed by a significant matchup between South Africa and Cameroon coached by Christian Kofane.