Infinite regrets. At the end of a rough and bitter trench war, Tunisia saw its last hopes slip away when the Malian El Bilal Touré scored the winning shot in the round of 16 of CAN 2025 (1-1, 3-2). The Eagles of Carthage stop in the eighth.
Twice, however, Firas Chaouat believed he would deliver the Tunisian people. The attacker, who entered in the 70th minute, first opened the scoring, with the tip of his head, after an error from the Malian defense (88th, 1-0). Then during extra time, by pushing the ball into the net (106th), before being flagged offside.
In the meantime, Mali had snatched an unexpected extension. Auxerre striker Lassine Sinayoko converted a penalty obtained after a Tunisian handball in the area (90th + 6, 1-1). Aymen Dahmen touched the ball, without pushing it away.
Tunisia has been fumbling for a long time
During regulation time, Tunisia was more dangerous. On set pieces, in particular. Hannibal Mejbri immediately put the Malian defense in danger from a corner (6th). A handful of minutes later, Ismaël Gharbi fired a heavy shot with his left foot, but it flew off target (12th).
After the break, OGC Nice full-back Ali Abdi in turn put Djigui Diarra in danger. But the Malian goalkeeper was vigilant and boxed out the direct corner hit by the Tunisian (56th). Hannibal Mejbri in turn attempted an off-center free kick, which the goalkeeper pushed back with difficulty (79th).
Mejbri heavily tackled
The rest of the game, if not spectacular, was muscular. Tunisian winger Hannibal Mejbri first received an extremely violent tackle from Woyo Coulibaly, who crushed his ankle (26th). The Malian right-back logically received a red card after this very dangerous gesture.
Hannibal Mejbri, who initially remained on the ground while grimacing in pain, finally got up. But the Burnley player, trained at Paris FC, was not at the end of his troubles. This time he was tackled by Lassana Coulibaly, near the surface. The gesture could have earned a red card, but the referee showed clemency.
The Eagles of Carthage have often been dependent on the inspiration of Hannibal Mejbri, his ball-playing percussion. The player in the number 10 jersey could even have snatched a penalty, on the hour mark, after entering the area between four Malian defenders. He then collapsed, but only received a yellow for simulation.
Bronn out with injury
The Tunisian maestro finally gave up his place in the 85th, replaced by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. Tunisia also lost its central defender Dylan Bronn, affected at the very start of the game. On an innocuous header, he injured his thigh and was replaced (11th) by Yassine Meriah… The author of the handball in the area at the very end of regulation time.
The Malian selection will challenge Senegal on January 9 for its quarter-final. The Lions of Teranga, winners against Sudan this Saturday (3-1), will find against them a team which is not afraid of receiving blows.
