Morocco were forced to delay their qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage after a 1-1 draw with Mali on Friday night, while Egypt moved swiftly into the last 16 thanks to a narrow win over South Africa. The results reshaped momentum in both Group A and Group B, highlighting how fine the margins are at this stage of the tournament.
At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco and Mali played out a tense encounter decided by penalties at both ends. Brahim Diaz put the hosts ahead deep into first half stoppage time after the referee awarded a spot kick following a lengthy VAR review. The decision came after Mali defender Nathan Gassama brushed the ball with his hand while trying to stop Diaz from dribbling past him inside the box. Diaz calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, registering his second goal of the tournament.
Morocco looked well placed to build on the lead but failed to maintain control after the break. Mali grew into the game and earned a penalty of their own just after the hour mark. Lassine Sinayoko was brought down by Jawad El Yamiq, and VAR once again played a role in confirming the decision. The Auxerre striker converted confidently to level the match.
Why did Morocco fail to secure early AFCON qualification?
Despite a strong opening half, Morocco struggled to impose themselves in the second period. Mali remained disciplined and defended deeply, frustrating the hosts as the clock ticked on. The match ended after 10 minutes of added time, with loud jeers from home supporters reflecting the disappointment inside the stadium. The draw also ended Morocco’s world record winning run of 19 matches.
Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi acknowledged the shift in performance levels after the interval. “The first half we were very good. We had chances to score. The second half we didn’t get into the game. We stopped playing and we suffered a bit. It’s a game that will help us going forward,” he told broadcaster beIN Sports. He added, “We’ve got to get the three points in the third match and finish first in the group.”
Morocco remain top of Group A with four points from two games, while Mali and Zambia sit on two points each. Zambia were held to a 0-0 draw by Comoros earlier in Casablanca. The hosts will now face Zambia on Monday, knowing that a win will confirm progression as group winners. Captain Achraf Hakimi remained an unused substitute as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
How did Egypt edge past South Africa to reach the last 16?
In Agadir, Egypt became the first team to qualify for the knockout rounds after Mohamed Salah converted a first half penalty to secure a 1-0 win over South Africa. The decisive moment came after a VAR review ruled that South African right back Khuliso Mudau had raised his arm and struck Salah in the eye inside the box. The Liverpool forward sent goalkeeper Ronwen Williams the wrong way from the spot.
The match was filled with late drama. In added time, Egypt were reduced to ten men when Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card for stamping on Teboho Mokoena. South Africa pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were denied what they believed was a clear penalty when Yasser Ibrahim appeared to handle the ball in the area.
Salah praised Egypt’s discipline after the final whistle. “I’m very happy for the result, for sure. It was a tough game, they dominated most of the time. It’s a team that can keep the ball for a long time so I think we had a good gameplan, it worked,” he said. “We walked away with the three points, it’s the most important thing. The atmosphere is incredible. Hopefully we can carry on like this.”
South Africa coach Hugo Broos was far less pleased. “The penalty awarded to Egypt was ridiculous, really ridiculous,” he said. “Regarding us not being awarded a penalty near the end, the arm of the Egyptian was extended and the ball touched it. It was a penalty.”
Egypt now sit on six points in Group B and are guaranteed a top two finish. South Africa remain on three points, while Angola and Zimbabwe shared a 1-1 draw earlier in Marrakesh, keeping qualification hopes alive heading into the final round.
By Yockshard Enyendi