Morocco-Mali (1-1): a draw that suits no one

It is often a VAR story in this 2025 African Cup of Nations. After saving – and qualifying – Egypt earlier in the afternoon against South Africa, video assistance imposed its rhythm in the second day clash between Morocco and Mali on Friday in Rabat. The two teams finally parted good friends, with a draw which did not help anyone.

However, everything started well for the Atlas Lions, already in search of qualification and first place in group A. In added time of a choppy first period with few chances, Brahim Diaz overflows on the right side, dribbles and brings down Nathan Gassama. Getting up, the Malian defender born in Évry involuntarily deflects the ball with his supporting hand and even puts the Moroccan attacker in an even more preferential position than he was in the area.

Walid Regragui’s players protest, forcing Abdou Abdel Mefire, the youngest referee of CAN 2025 at the age of 29, to go see the images on the edge of the field to award a penalty to Morocco. Brahim Diaz calmly transforms and scores his second goal in the competition (45th + 3).

Still no return for Achraf Hakimi

In the second half, the VAR will this time fill the Malians with happiness. At the hour mark, Jawad El-Yamiq, starting to compensate for Romain Saiss’s loss, threw himself roughly into the legs of Lassine Sinayoko. The referee did not flinch in the general incomprehension, before finally being brought to his senses by his video assistants and granting the Eagles a chance to equalize. The Auxerre striker does not miss it and allows his team to reset the counters to zero (64th).

Perhaps a man was missing to definitively tip the scales in favor of Morocco. “Achraf Hakimi is doing well and we will make the best decision for him,” Walid Regragui assured at a press conference. The preferable choice for the captain of the selection was therefore to remain on the bench a second time. Despite the trip of his great friend Kylian Mbappé, who came to support him in the stands with his jersey on his back, the right side, injured since November 4 and a tackle from Luis Diaz in the Champions League with Paris, was unable to make his return to competition.

The 2025 European champion was therefore also unable to prevent the poor performance of the Atlas Lions. What remains of these 90 minutes is a frustrating draw, a lot of debates, and a qualification to be won on Monday, against the Comoros for Mali and against Zambia for Morocco.