Mali secured a dramatic passage to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, defeating Tunisia 3-2 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in Casablanca. The victory came despite Mali playing with ten men for over an hour, exposing a deep-seated timidity and paranoia within the Tunisian ranks that ultimately proved their undoing.
Tunisian Paralysis Against Ten Men
The pivotal moment arrived in the 26th minute when Mali's Woyo Coulibaly was sent off for a reckless stamp on Hannibal Mejbri. Presented with a numerical advantage for the remainder of the match, Tunisia failed to seize the initiative. Instead of pressing their advantage, they retreated into a shell of negativity, squabbling, feigning injury, and breaking up play at every opportunity.
For all their possession, Tunisia's attacking ambition was virtually non-existent. At one point in the first half, they had a throw-in deep in Mali's half but sent only a single player into the penalty area. Their approach seemed designed to win petty battles rather than the football match itself.
Late Drama and Penalty Heartbreak
Against the run of play, it looked like Tunisia had snatched a fortuitous win when Firas Chaouat scored with a deft back-header in the 89th minute. Their lead, however, was catastrophically short-lived. Almost immediately from the restart, Yassine Meriah handled a free-kick in the box, allowing Lassine Sinayoko to step up and convert the resulting penalty, sending the game to extra time.
In the shootout, Tunisia twice took the lead, but their composure crumbled. Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra emerged as the hero, making crucial saves as Mali won the penalty shootout 3-2 to progress. The result was a crushing disappointment for a Tunisian side that had qualified for their third successive World Cup with ease.
A Crisis of Confidence for Tunisia
The defeat lays bare a chronic psychological issue within Tunisian football. Despite their pedigree as the first African nation to win a World Cup match, the team is cursed by self-doubt and a debilitating fear of failure. Coach Sami Trabelsi, under pressure after a group-stage exit at the Arab Cup, set up his side with a defensive, five-man midfield lacking in creativity, seemingly afraid of a Mali side they were expected to beat.
This negativity has been a hallmark of their play for decades. Every decision is contested, every break in play maximised. While such tactics can be effective against superior opponents, against a Mali side happy to sit deep, it was incomprehensible and ultimately self-defeating. The anxiety that grips the team remains hard to explain, but on this evidence, it continues to hold them back from achieving their potential.
In the day's other last-16 tie, defending champions Senegal booked their quarter-final spot with a 3-1 comeback win over Sudan. Pape Gueye scored a first-half brace after Aamir Abdallah's early shock opener for Sudan, and 17-year-old Ibrahima Mbaye added a late third to seal the victory for the tournament favourites.
