Ex-PSL Coach Leads Mali To AFCON Last 8

Image via Équipe Nationale Tunisienne

Ten-man Mali progressed to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after defeating Tunisia in a penalty shoot-out on Sauturday night.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Result: Mali 1-1 Tunisia (Mali won 3-2 on penalties)

Date: 03 January 2026

Venue: Stade Mohamed V

The Tunisians were dealt a blow ten minutes into the contest when Dylan Bronn picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Sami Trabelsi.

The opening 20 minutes belonged to the North Africans, who dominated possession for large parts of the first half as Ismael Gharbi went close to breaking the deadlock with a powerful long-range strike that sailed inches wide of the upright.

However, the situation did not get better for Mali on 26 minutes after they were reduced to ten men after Woyo Coulibaly was given a straight red card for a dangerous challenge, making their task a little more tougher as they chased shadows.

Despite boasting the numerical advantage, the Eagles of Carthage found themselves struggling to carve out any serious chances in the 18-yard area as the Mali defenders did well to thwart every attempt cross that came into the area.

The North Africans continued to dominate after the halftime break as they went in search of the opening goal, but they were nearly caught out on the break in the 62nd minute when Dorgeles Nene broke free down the left side of the box but ended up firing over the crossbar.

The Tunisians responded with a double change on 70 minutes, coach Sami Trabelsi withdrew Gharbi and Hazem Mastouri for Firas Chaouat and Elias Saad with 20 minutes left in the second period.

The change paid dividends with extra-time looming, as Tunisia popped up with the opening goal in the 88th minute when Chaouat got on the end of Elias Saad’s teasing cross and sent a neat header into the far corner.

Mali ensured the game would go to extra-time after winning a penalty in second-half stoppage time for Yassine Meriah’s handball in the box. Lassine Sinayoko stepped up and calmly slotted home to level matters.

Extra-time, however, proved to be quite a dull affair as Mali were quite happy to sit back and soak up the pressure with ten men while frustrating the Tunisians, who were unable to carve out another opening, which sent the game to a penalty shoot-out, where Mali held their nerve to triumph 3-2.

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