Morocco disappointed on Friday evening at the Africa Cup. In Rabat, national coach Walid Regragui’s team was unable to defeat Mali: 1-1. The score was opened before half time by Brahim Díaz, who watched as Lassine Sinayoko, also from eleven meters, signed for the final score: 1-1. Morocco, which was jeered by its own fans afterwards, will have to ensure a group win in the last group match against Zambia.
Morocco did not get off to the best start in the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah. Mali emphatically looked for the counter and almost got through a few times in the opening phase. Morocco’s most dangerous moment came from a free kick by Díaz, who fired his shot over Djigui Diarra’s goal.
Díaz was the ideal man to provide danger on the Moroccan side and the Real Madrid attacker regularly succeeded. After a one-two, he shot at Diarra, after which Ismael Saibari tapped the ball. The PSV player got the ball a little behind him and passed the ball over, to the dismay of those present in Rabat.
Saibari was involved in another attack after half an hour, but the PSV player did not time well with a great cross from Noussair Mazraoui and did not get a serious shot right in front of Diarra.
Just before half time, Morocco opened the score. Díaz dropped Nathan Gassama with a quick feint, after which the Mali defender touched the ball with his arm. After a VAR check, the referee awarded a penalty, which was shot in by Díaz: 1-0.
Morocco performed better in the opening phase of the second half, although they still had to wait for the opportunities to double the lead. But before that happened, Sinayoko was tackled in the box by Jawad El Yamiq. After a VAR check, Mali was awarded a penalty and it was used by Sinayoko: 1-1.
Morocco definitely had a chance to win in the future. After a dramatic play-in pass in Mali’s build-up, Morocco won possession. Substitute Youssef En-Nesyri was immediately reached, turned open and shot against the outbound goalkeeper Diarra.
In the final phase, Mali had many opportunities to counter, but in the end there was no victory for either team. Deep into injury time, Mali almost scored an own goal after a Woyo Coulibaly header. Diarra did not save Mali beautifully for the first time and so the score remained at 1-1.
