Mali hold Morocco to a 1-1 draw in Rabat
Morocco and Mali played out a tense 1–1 draw in Rabat at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat on Friday December 26, 2025. Both goals came from penalties awarded via VAR, with Brahim Díaz scoring for Morocco and Lassine Sinayoko equalizing for Mali. The result ended Morocco’s 19-game winning streak but kept them top of Group A.
Bouyed by the home crowd, Walid Reguagui’s men domiated proceedings with the brilliant Brahim Diaz breaking behind the Mali defenders on several occasions.
Morocco’s perseverance paid off when VAR awarded the hosts a penalty for a handball in the box. Brahim Díaz stepped up and converted to give Morocco the lead.
Mali came back fighting from the break as Lassine Sinayoko equalized from the spot after VAR awarded a penalty for a foul on him.
Current Group A Standings (AFCON 2025)
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
| 2 | Mali | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Zambia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Comoros | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Morocco remain unbeaten and lead Group A, but the draw means they must wait until their final group game to secure qualification.
Mali showed resilience, ending Morocco’s record winning run and keeping their hopes alive with two points. Group A is wide open: Zambia and Mali are level on points, while Comoros still have a chance to upset the balance.
