Mali, playing with ten men, edged past Tunisia 3-2 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). El Bilal Toure scored the winning spot-kick after Tunisia’s Ali Abdi missed, while Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saved two crucial penalties.
The game was mostly quiet until the end, with Mali captain Yves Bissouma missing a penalty and teammate Nene Dorgeles hitting the post. Mali had been down to ten players for over 90 minutes after Woyo Coulibaly was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Hannibal Mejbri.
Tunisia briefly went ahead in stoppage time through Firas Chaouat, but Mali earned a last-minute penalty after a handball, which Lassine Sinayoko converted to force extra time. Chaouat thought he had scored again in extra time, but it was ruled offside, sending the match to penalties.
Mali will now face 2021 champions Senegal in the quarter-finals in Tangier on Friday.
