By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Sets up Quarterfinal Against Senegal on January 9 . . .
THE EAGLES of Mali on Saturday in Casablanca, Morocco before a crowd of 41,982 fans threw West Africa into great frenzy with a rare resilient character that won the 10-man Malian team a place in the quarterfinal against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.
While the Malian fans extensively celebrated the 3-2 win via penalty after 1-1 at full time, the Tunisians who are neighbors to hosts Morocco and Nigerian fans casted a joke on them that they trekked down to the Mundial were looking for like stranded passengers that missed their train.
Beskistas boy on loan from Atalanta where he played with Demola Lookman of Nigeria talking about Bilal Toure scored the winning penalty kick for Mali after Diakite and Sinayoko scored theirs but Bissouma and Dorgeles lost their kicks.
All the players were panting like a dog feeling tired and exhausted playing in the rain. Only Meriah and Saad scored their kicks but the Malian goalkeeper stopped the kicks of Abdi and Achouri while Meriah and Ben shot wide.
Cover Photo is Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra of Mali who was MAN OF THE MATCH that saved two vital penalty kicks and many goal bound shots.
Tunisia scored the first goal in the 88th minute when Elias Saad lifted the ball into the box and Club Africain man, Firas Chaouat nodded it into goal.
The match was tense as both sides fought or the ball and then a hacking came and South African Ref Tom Abongile gave a penalty which Lassine Sinayako scored in the 90+6 minute for an equalizer to make the stadium roar for more action.
Mali was physical from the beginning of the game and Wayo Coulibaly was given a straight red for stamping on the ankle of a Tunisian player in the 26th minute.
It was the same way Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi stamped incidentally on a Tunisian player at the 2021 tournament and got a straight red. Malian players and fans called for VAR review and VAR stoutly approved the Red card making Wayo to go for an early shower.
Mali drew goalless with Comoros in their last group match; drew 1-1 with hosts Morocco and got another 1-1 draw with Zambia. Tunisia also drew 1-1 with Tanzania lost 2-3 to Nigeria and beat Uganda 3-2.
Mali versus Tunisia are interesting teams that have met nine times each winning three matches with three draws from where 17 goals were scored eight for Mali and nine for Tunisia.
They met thrice at AFCON where Mali won once and there were two draws. The greatest win recorded was a 4-2 win in favour of Tunisia played on 10th August 2011 which was an international friendly match.
The Eagles of Mali ranked 53 in the world appearing at AFCON finals 14 times never won a title; were Silver Medalist in 1972; won bronze twice in 2012 and 2013 but got the 4th podium in both 2002 and 2004.
Tunisia ranked 41 is appearing for the 22nd time in the tournament winning the title once in 2004; Silver twice in 1965 and 1996; Bronze once in 1962 and made the 4th position twice in 2000 and 2019.
Earlier, Senegal came from behind to eliminate Sudan 3-1 in the first R16 match and both Senegal and Mali will meet on 9th January in the first quarterfinal in Tangir.
Tomorrow Sunday at 5pm hosts Morocco will be trying to bring down the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in the march to win the trophy while at 8.00pm the finals before the finals will be Bafana Bafana of South Africa versus Indomitable Lions of Cameroon which promises to be a very tough duel.
Here other fixtures for the round of 16 matches:
1. Egypt vs Benin at 5.00pm on Monday Jan 5.
2. Nigeria vs Mozambique 8,00pm on Monday Jan 5.
3. Algeria vs DR Congo at 5.00pm on Tuesday Jan 6.
4. CIV vs BFA at 8.00pm on Tuesday Jan 6.
#AFCON25 #CAF #FRMF #FMF #SAFA
#FEBEFOOT #TFF#FECAFOOT #SFA
#FAFA #EFA #NFF.
