Mali frustrated Cote d’Ivoire to a barren draw in the penultimate 2018 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifying fixture at March 26th Stadium, Bamako Friday.

The result throws the Elephants’ progression chances into a spin as they could surrender the group’s lead to Morocco who face Gabon later today.

Morocco placed second in the group’s standings on six points will play host to the Panthers at Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca tonight.

A win will see the North Africans storm to the helm one point clear of the Elephants who they face in November in the last round of the qualifiers.

In Bamako, a youthful Mali proved a hard nut to crack and were the favorites to bag all the three points.

Despite bossing the proceedings more so in the second stanza the Eagles’ inexperience however let them down in front of goal.

On the other end the Ivoirians finished the entire first half without a single short on goal; the second half was equally low key for the under pressure Marc Wilmot’s side.

The Elephants’ TP Mazembe goalkeeper Cylvian Gbohouo was booked for time wasting.

More matches will be staged today with Uganda vs Ghana, Tunisia vs Guinea and Nigeria vs Zambia being among the key highlights.