Host nation Morocco missed the chance to secure an early place in the AFCON knockout stages after a 1-1 draw with Mali halted their historic 19-match winning streak.
Key Points:
The match was decided by two penalties, with Brahim Diaz scoring for Morocco and Lassine Sinayoko equalizing for Mali.
The draw ended Morocco’s world-record winning run of 19 consecutive matches.
Morocco remains atop Group A with 4 points, but has not yet mathematically qualified.
Mali is second with 2 points, level with Zambia after their draw with Comoros.
Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi remained an unused substitute as he recovers from injury.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé was in attendance, reportedly wearing a Morocco shirt in support of his friend Hakimi.
The home crowd jeered at the final whistle after Mali held on through ten minutes of stoppage time.
The result adds tension to Morocco’s final group match against Zambia and highlights the competitive parity in Group A.
Sources: Channels Television, AFP