Mali moved closer to advancing to the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-1 draw against Tunisia in a Group E match at Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly.
In Saturday’s game, Lassine Sinayoko scored the opening goal for Mali after 10 minutes, as his low shot hit the post and went into the net.
However, Tunisia equalized 10 minutes later when Hamza Rafia took advantage of Sikou Niakite’s slow reaction to clear a cross from the left side.
Both teams had several opportunities to score but were unable to convert them into goals.
With the draw, Tunisia remains winless after two matches and has only one point, while Mali remains at the top of the group and is close to securing a spot in the next round.
If Bafana wins against Namibia on Sunday, they will move up to the second position in Group E.
Sinayoko once again showed his reliability as a goal-scorer for Mali, as he also scored in their first match against South Africa. His consistent performance could be crucial for Mali as the tournament progresses.
Unfortunately, Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni had a disappointing performance against Mali and was substituted towards the end of the match. This could turn the tournament into a nightmare for him.
Mali will now face Namibia in their final group game on January 24, while Tunisia will play against Bafana Bafana.
The last round of matches in this group is expected to be an exciting finish, as no team has secured a spot in the knockouts yet.
