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Ten-Man Mali Defy the Odds to Reach AFCON Quarterfinals

E28 Staff1
Mali

Mali scripted one of the most dramatic stories of the Africa Cup of Nations, advancing to the quarter-finals after beating Tunisia 3-2 on penalties despite playing with 10 men for more than 100 minutes. The round-of-16 clash finished 1-1 after extra time before the Eagles held their nerve in the shootout.

Tunisia looked set for victory when Firas Chaouat headed home in the 88th minute, sending their supporters into celebration. But Mali refused to surrender. Deep into stoppage time, the Eagles were awarded a penalty, and Lassine Sinayoko calmly converted to force extra time.

Mali Penalty Drama and Goalkeeper Brilliance Seal Victory

The shootout was filled with tension. Mali captain Yves Bissouma blazed his effort over the bar, but Tunisia failed to capitalize as Ali Abdi missed his spot kick. Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra then became the hero, saving two penalties before El Bilal Toure stepped up to score the decisive kick.

Mali had been a man down since the 26th minute after Ousmane Coulibaly was sent off, yet their resilience never wavered.

β€œπ‘©π’†π’‡π’π’“π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’ˆπ’‚π’Žπ’†, 𝑰 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… π’Žπ’š π’•π’†π’‚π’Ž π’˜π’†π’“π’† π’‚π’π’“π’†π’‚π’…π’š 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒆𝒔,” π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… π‘΄π’‚π’π’Š 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 π‘»π’π’Ž π‘Ίπ’‚π’Šπ’π’•π’‡π’Šπ’†π’•. β€œπ‘΅π’π’˜ 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 π’Žπ’π’“π’† π’˜π’π’“π’…π’”. π‘¬π’—π’†π’“π’š π’‘π’π’‚π’šπ’†π’“ π’‡π’π’–π’ˆπ’‰π’• 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’„π’π’–π’π’•π’“π’š, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 π’ˆπ’π’‚π’π’Œπ’†π’†π’‘π’†π’“ π’Žπ’‚π’…π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’…π’Šπ’‡π’‡π’†π’“π’†π’π’„π’†.”

Saintfiet’s side will now face defending champions Senegal in a mouthwatering West African quarter-final clash next Friday, after Senegal defeated Sudan 3-1 earlier in the day.

β€œπ‘Ύπ’† π’”π’•π’‚π’šπ’†π’… π’–π’π’Šπ’•π’†π’… 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’ƒπ’†π’π’Šπ’†π’—π’†π’… π’–π’π’•π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅,” π‘Ίπ’‚π’Šπ’π’•π’‡π’Šπ’†π’• 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅. β€œπ‘»π’‰π’‚π’• π’ƒπ’†π’π’Šπ’†π’‡ π’Œπ’†π’‘π’• 𝒖𝒔 π’‚π’π’Šπ’—π’† π’Šπ’ π’•π’‰π’Šπ’” π’•π’π’–π’“π’π’‚π’Žπ’†π’π’•.”

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