Ten-man Mali beat Tunisia on penalties to book AFCON quarterfinal place

After their last-16 tie ended 1-1 at the end of extra time, Tunisia defeated Mali 3-2 on penalties to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals.

In the 88th minute, substitute Firas Chaouat headed the Carthage Eagles in front, and Tunisia looked to have done the same.

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In the 26th minute, Mali’s defenseman Woyo Coulibaly was sent off at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, but they were given a restraint when they were given a stoppage-time penalty.

Lassine Sinayoko scored the decisive shootout to extend the tie and allow extra time to pass.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, captain Yves Bissouma, fired Mali’s first kick past the bar, but Ali Abdi missed before Eagles goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saved two more penalties, and Toure won.

After coming from behind to defeat Sudan 3-1 earlier, Tom Saintfiet’s Mali made it to the quarterfinals of Tangier against West African neighbors Senegal.

When right-back Coulibaly, who is currently based in Italy’s Serie A with Sassuolo, received a straight red card for raking his studs down Hannibal Mejbri’s calf, Mali’s chances of winning the Cup of Nations were hampered.

However, after Elias Saad flighted a ball into the box and Club Africain striker Chaouat stole a march on his marker to head home, the game remained goalless and extra time was looming.

The majority of the 41, 982 people in Morocco’s largest city embraced that ideal, with many locals choosing to support their fellow North Africans.

However, in injury time, a tie that appeared to be over turned into a dramatic turn when Tunisia defender Yassine Meriah’s arm was struck by South African referee Abongile Tom inside the area.

Auxerre’s forward Sinayoko stayed calm throughout a protracted delay as the official discussed the penalty with the VAR team before the game’s 96th minute.

As a result of the heavy rainfall, Tunisia worked overtime to improve its chances. Many spectators in the largely unlit stadium had to leave their seats due to the extreme weather.

At the start of the second period of extra time, Chaouat had the ball in the net, but the offside flag denied it.

Bissouma and Nene Dorgeles both allegedly failed from the spot in a penalty shootout, which appeared to be inevitable for Mali.