Ten-man Mali defied their personnel disadvantage to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals with a 3-2 win on penalties over Tunisia, who failed to reach the last eight for just the second time in the last six editions of the competition.
The game started fiercely, with the action dominated by indiscipline rather than goalmouth action. Referee Abongile Tom produced four yellow cards during the opening 25 minutes and was forced to reach for red when Woyo Coulibaly went in high on Hannibal Mejbri, making the Leicester City loanee the fourth Mali player to be sent off across the last three AFCON editions – the most of any national side across those tournaments.
Having the player advantage allowed Tunisia full control of possession, but they had precious little to enjoy in front of goal. Half-time came with only a couple of chances for the Eagles of Carthage, neither of which caused any real worry for Djigui Diarra in the Mali goal.
The same trend continued after the restart, but the introduction of Dorgeles Nene started to turn things in Mali’s favour, as the Fenerbahce man fired over on the counter.
The first shot on target in the match finally came when Hannibal’s free kick was palmed out by Diarra, before Elias Saad’s shot met the same fate just moments later.
Sami Trabelsi’s side kept plugging away, and they were handsomely rewarded just a minute or so from the end of normal time. Saad floated a cross over the entire Mali backline, where Chaouat was left unmarked to nod into the bottom corner past a helpless Diarra.
Mali had just minutes to respond, but they were granted the opportunity they needed when a last-second penalty was awarded for Yassine Meriah’s handball.
Lassine Sinayoko stepped up and passed beyond Aymen Dahmen to send the match to extra time just as the rain started to fall.
Meriah’s wayward, long-range hit was as close as either side came in the first half, and while Tunisia did have the ball in the net in the second, Chaouat was offside in the process.
Penalties arrived for the first time this AFCON, and both sides alternated between scoring and missing for their first four each.
Then, Diarra made a stunning save – his second of the shootout – to deny Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, before El Bilal Toure buried Mali’s fifth to send them to a last-eight meeting with Senegal.
Tunisia didn't quite disappoint their fans as much as they did in a group-stage exit two years ago, and unlike tonight’s opponents, they can now at least look ahead to the summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America.
