RE-LIVE: AFCON 2025 - Rolling updates of today’s action and key moments (3 January)

🔚 22:00 FULL-TIME 

Mali will now look forward to their quarter-final match with much expectation after surviving the Tunisia scare. We will be back tomorrow with our updates for the matches. Thank you and good night from Morocco.

🔚 FULL-TIME (After penalties) | Mali 1(3), Tunisia 1(2)

Mali are through to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, prevailing 3–2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw across 120 minutes — a victory carved out with remarkable resilience and character.

Reduced to ten men for a large portion of the contest, the Eagles of Mali showed extraordinary discipline, composure and belief, absorbing sustained Tunisian pressure before holding their nerve from the spot. It was a performance defined not by numbers, but by mentality.

Tunisia, despite spells of control and attacking intent, were unable to turn their numerical advantage into a decisive breakthrough, and were ultimately undone in the shoot-out by Mali’s calm execution and decisive goalkeeping.

The result extends Mali’s unbeaten AFCON record against Tunisia and sees them advance to the last eight for the seventh time in their history, reaffirming their reputation as one of the competition’s most resilient knockout performers.

For Tunisia, elimination brings a familiar sense of frustration at this stage, while for Mali, this night in Casablanca will be remembered as a triumph of courage — a reminder that at AFCON, resolve can outweigh circumstance.

🕗 21:49 GMT - PENALTIES

Second Half Extra Time ends. So we go for the first penalty shootout of the 2025 AFCON: Updates below:

 

Match ends, Mali 1(3), Tunisia 1(2).

Penalty Shootout ends, Mali 1(3), Tunisia 1(2).

Penalty saved. Mohamed Ben Romdhane (Tunisia) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner by Djigui Diarra (Mali).

Goal! Mali 1(2), Tunisia 1(2). Gaoussou Diakite (Mali) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.

Penalty saved. Elias Achouri (Tunisia) right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner by Djigui Diarra (Mali).

Penalty missed! Still Mali 1(1), Tunisia 1(2). Dorgeles Nene (Mali) hits the left post with a right footed shot.

Goal! Mali 1(1), Tunisia 1(2). Elias Saad (Tunisia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

Goal! Mali 1(1), Tunisia 1(1). Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

Penalty missed. Ali Abdi (Tunisia) left footed shot is just a bit too high.

Penalty missed. Yves Bissouma (Mali) right footed shot is too high.

Goal! Mali 1, Tunisia 1(1). Yassine Meriah (Tunisia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
🕗 21:41 GMT - EXTRA TIME FULL TIME

Mali 1, Tunisia 1. Second Half Extra Time ends. So we go for the first shoot-out of the 2025 AFCON.

🕗 21:28 GMT 

Mali catch Tunisia on the break but a Carthage Eagles defender fouls El Bilal Touré for a free kick to the Eagles.

🕗 21:25 GMT 

Second Half Extra Time begins Mali 1, Tunisia 1.

🕗 21:23 GMT -

First Half Extra Time ends, Mali 1, Tunisia 1.

🕗 21:22 GMT - 

Tunisia pressigng hard to get a goal in the extra time but the Mali defence is resolute by thwarting the attacks. 

• First Half Extra Time ends, Mali 1, Tunisia 1.

🕗 21:08 GMT - EXTRA TIME BEGINS

Extra time begins as two halves of the game is underway to determine the winner of this exciting encounter. 

🕗 21:03 GMT - SECOND HALF ENDS

Mali 1-1 Tunisia! The second half ends with the result 1-1 with extra time to be played. 

🕗 21:01 GMT - GOAL MALI

Mali 1-1 Tunisia! Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

🕗 20:57 GMT - PENALTY MALI

Tunisia have conceded a penalty and given Mali the chance to restore parity just before full time. The penalty was conceded by Yassine Meriah with a handball in the penalty area.

90+6'Goal! Mali 1, Tunisia 1. 

90+2'Penalty conceded by Yassine Meriah (Tunisia) with a handball in the penalty area.

🕗 20:53 GMT - GOAL TUNISIA

Mali 0-1 Tunisia! With just two minutes of regulation time left Tunisia have taken the lead. Firas Chaouat (Tunisia) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Elias Saad.

 

🕗 20:50 GMT

Late chances at both ends, but finishing deserts both teams. Extra time looms in Casablanca.

🕗 20:40 GMT

Both coaches make changes, injecting fresh legs. The intensity remains high, with neither side willing to settle.

🕗 20:30 GMT

The match becomes stretched. Mali threaten on the counter, while Tunisia dominate possession, sensing an opportunity to take control.

🕗 20:20 GMT

A moment of quality in the final third brings the Carthage Eagles into full action, shifting momentum sharply.

🔄 SECOND HALF

🕗 20:08 GMT – Second half underway

Mali restart with urgency, committing more bodies forward.Tunisia remain organised, absorbing pressure.

🕗 19:53 GMT – HALF-TIME

Mali 0–0 Tunisia

The match deadlocked at the break but Tunisia have the numerical advantage after Woyo Coulibaly was sent off. Tunisia dominate at the break, continuing their trend in this AFCON. Mali face a familiar knockout challenge and will need a strong response.

🕖 19:52 GMT

Mali has so far received two reds in this competition following Coulibaly's red card today. Amadou Haidara was the first Malian player to receive a red card in this competition. 

🕖 19:43 GMT

Tunisia come close to opening the scoring, but Mali’s defence stands firm. Tension rises as the half draws to a close. Mali has so far received two reds in this competition following Coulibaly's red card today. Amadou Haidara was the first Malian player to receive a red card in this competition. 

🕖 19:37 GMT

Tunisia dominating the exchanges as they have 67% of possession but are still to find the opener. 

🕖 19:30 GMT

Tunisia respond immediately, pushing higher up the pitch. Mali drop slightly deeper, looking to protect their defence and strike on the counter.

🕓 19:26 GMT – RED CARD MALI

Mali are down to ten men after Woyo Coulibaly was shown the red card.

🕖 19:20 GMT

First real chance of the match falls to Mali, but Tunisia’s goalkeeper reacts sharply. The game begins to open up, with space appearing between the lines.

🕖 19:10 GMT

Mali enjoy a spell of possession, moving the ball confidently through midfield. Tunisia remain compact, pressing selectively and waiting for transition moments.

⚽ KICK-OFF

🕖 19:00 GMT – First half underway

Tunisia get the game started. Early exchanges are cautious, with both teams prioritising structure and avoiding early mistakes.

🕕 18:50 GMT

Players head back to the dressing rooms for final instructions. Penalties are already being discussed by the fans — this feels like a match that could go the distance.

🕕 18:40 GMT

The atmosphere inside the stadium is building. Supporters from both nations are well represented, with neutral fans also filling the stands for what is expected to be one of the most balanced ties of the Round of 16.

🕕 18:30 GMT

This will be the fifth successive AFCON tournament in which these two sides meet. Mali are unbeaten in all four previous AFCON encounters, but this is their first-ever knockout meeting, adding extra intrigue.

🕕 18:20 GMT

Warm-ups are underway. Mali’s midfield trio go through quick passing drills, while Tunisia’s forwards work on movement and finishing — a sign of intent ahead of what promises to be a tight contest.

🕕 18:10 GMT

Both teams have arrived at the Stade Mohammed V. Mali’s players look calm and focused after an unbeaten but winless group stage, while Tunisia appear confident, buoyed by their attacking improvement late in the group phase.

🕕 18:08 GMT – Build-up begins

Welcome back to our live coverage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. Attention now shifts to Casablanca, where Mali and Tunisia meet in a Round of 16 clash steeped in AFCON history, familiarity and fine margins.

🕕 18:05 GMT – LIVE BLOG | Mali vs Tunisia (Round of 16)

Venue: Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

🕕 18:03 GMT – FULL-TIME

Stay with us — next up is Mali vs Tunisia at 19:00 GMT in Casablanca, as the Round of 16 continues.