After a 1-1 draw in the last 16, Mali won on penalties and faced Senegal in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup Nations.
Published January 3, 2026
El Bilal Toure scored the winning goal, and Mali defeated Tunisia 3-2 in a penalty shootout, ending the game 1-1 in extra time, advancing to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations, where they faced each other in the last 16.
Tunisia appeared to have finished the job on Saturday against the Carthage Eagles, with substitute Firas Chauat heading in in the 88th minute against Mali, who were forced to play with one man less for most of the game.
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Mali had defender Woyo Koulibaly sent off in the 26th minute at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium, but were awarded a penalty in stoppage time to earn a reprieve.
Racing Shinayoko converted from the spot, tying the game and sending the game into overtime and, ultimately, a decisive shootout.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and captain Yves Bissouma sent Mari’s first kick over the bar, but Tunisia’s Ali Abdi missed and Eagles goalkeeper Gigi Diarra then saved two more penalties for Toure to win.
Mali, led by Tom St. Feet, advanced to the quarter-finals against neighboring West African Senegal in Tangier next Friday after earlier coming from behind to beat Sudan 3-1.
Mali have never won a Nations Cup and their prospects in this competition were not helped by Koulibaly, a right-back currently with Sassuolo in Italy’s Serie A, who was shown a straight red card for hitting Hannibal Meibry with a stud on the back of his calf.
However, the match remained scoreless and with extra time looming, Tunisia finally confirmed their numerical superiority when Elias Saad flicked the ball into the box and Club African striker Schauer stole a march towards his marker.
The goal was celebrated by the majority of the 41,982-strong crowd in Morocco’s largest city, with many locals choosing to support their fellow North Africans.
Yet the tie, which appeared to be settled, took a dramatic turn in stoppage time when the ball hit Tunisian defender Yassine Melia’s arm in the area and South African referee Abongile Tom pointed to the spot.
Auxerre forward Shinayoko kept his cool through a long delay as the referee consulted with the VAR team before converting the penalty, which was taken in the 96th minute.
Tunisia worked hard to create chances in stoppage time despite the heavy rain. The situation forced many spectators to give up their seats in the nearly uncovered stadium.
At the start of the second period of extra time, Schauer again put the ball into the net, but this time it was denied by an offside flag.
A penalty shootout seemed inevitable, but it happened and Mali were left without Bissouma and Nene Dolgeles.
However, a mistake from Abdi and saves from Diara’s Elias Acholi and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdine allowed Mali to win. Toure, who failed to convert a penalty in the group stage match against Zambia at the same stadium, converted the goal.
