Ten-man Mali rode their luck to beat Tunisia 3-2 on penalties and reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
El Bilal Toure netted the decisive spot-kick after Ali Abdi blazed over the bar and Eagles goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saved Tunisia’s fourth and fifth strikes from Elias Achouri and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane.
After a match containing little action until late on, the shootout was full of drama as Mali captain Yves Bissouma fired over and team-mate Nene Dorgeles hit the post with his effort.
The West Africans were a man down for more than 90 minutes after Woyo Coulibaly was shown a straight red card for catching Hannibal Mejbri on the Achilles with his studs.
Tunisia went ahead with two minutes of regulation time remaining when Firas Chaouat’s header crept inside the right-hand upright, but Mali were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after Yassine Meriah was penalised for handball.
Lassine Sinayoko’s low spot-kick had just enough on it to get past Carthage Eagles goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, who got his hand to the ball, and send the game to extra time.
Chaouat thought he had made it 2-1 early in the second period of extra time but the effort was ruled out for offside against team-mate Abdi and the game eventually drifted towards a shootout.
Mali will travel north to Tangier to face 2021 champions Senegal, who beat Sudan earlier, in the last eight on Friday (16:00 GMT).
Both sides had been unconvincing in the group stage, with Mali finishing second in Group A after drawing all three outings and Tunisia’s win over Uganda in their tournament opener their sole victory in Group C.
Referee Abongile Tom took a strict approach from the off in a fiercely contested game in Casablanca, booking four players by the midway point of the first half.
The South African official then had no hesitation in reaching for red in the 26th minute when right-back Coulibaly needlessly lunged in from behind on Mejbri some 15 yards inside the Tunisia half.
The right-back took his time departing the field – perhaps hoping for a reprieve from the video assistant referee (VAR) which was never going to come – and his exit prompted the West Africans to sit deep in a compact defensive shape.
Tunisia rarely looked like breaking their opponents down despite dominating possession, and the first effort on target only came in the 79th minute when Mejbri’s free-kick from nearly 30 yards almost caught out Diarra.
Substitute forward Chaouat looked to have won it, breaking the deadlock late on after ghosting in behind Mali’s centre-backs to convert Elias Saad’s looping cross, but Tunisia’s joy was short-lived as a free-kick hit the arm of Meriah and Sinayoko equalised from 12 yards.
The big moment in extra time came when Chaouat tapped Abdi’s cross into the net in the 106th minute, but the left-back had strayed offside when following up a low effort from Ellyes Skhiri which Diarra could only palm away.
The penalty shootout, played out in driving rain with animated coaching staff getting a soaking on the touchline, was a rollercoaster affair and Diarra’s two saves proved crucial in turning the tide after Mali trailed 2-1 after three rounds.
Besiktas frontman Toure had a penalty saved in the first half of Mali’s opener against Zambia on 22 December, but showed composure to send Dahmen the wrong way before ripping off his shirt as he sparked celebrations for the Eagles.
Mali are yet to reflect the full extent of their undeniably talented squad in their performances in Morocco, having reached the last eight without recording a victory.
But having now received red cards in their past two outings, Eagles coach Tom Saintfiet will need his side to improve their discipline when they come up against a Senegal side which has already found the back of the net 10 times at these finals.
Tunisia boss Sami Trabelsi, meanwhile, will be left to reflect on his side’s failure to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
The Carthage Eagles did not get past the group stage at the 2023 Afcon, but their last-16 exit in Morocco means the North Africans have still only recorded one semi-final appearance since lifting the trophy in 2004.
