Mali Advances Past Tunisia in AFCON Shock Victory with 10 Players

Mali defeated Tunisia 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time during the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. This result knocks Tunisia, a strong team and 2026 World Cup qualifier, out of the tournament.

Mali will now face Senegal in the quarterfinals.

A tense match filled with intensity

Mali started the game at a disadvantage, facing a well-seasoned Tunisia team known for its past success in AFCON and the World Cup. The situation worsened in the 26th minute when Mali’s fullback Woyo Coulibaly received a red card for a reckless tackle on Tunisian player Hannibal Mejbri.

The tackle was dangerous, and there were no objections to the red card. However, Coulibaly’s exit put Mali under pressure for over 70 minutes against a motivated Tunisia looking to take advantage.