The city of Casablanca witnessed an unforgettable night of football as Mali's Eagles staged one of the most dramatic comebacks in AFCON 2025 history, defeating Tunisia in the Round of 16 after playing most of the match with ten men. This thrilling encounter, set against the backdrop of the Mohammed V Stadium, saw Mali's determination transform a seemingly impossible situation into a celebrated victory.

Leading up to this highly anticipated knockout match, both teams had navigated challenging group stages. Tunisia, finishing second in Group C behind Nigeria, secured four points with a victory against Uganda, a loss to Nigeria, and a draw with Tanzania. Mali, on the other hand, had a tougher run in Group A, managing only three points from three consecutive draws to finish second behind host nation Morocco.

The game started with Tunisia on the offensive, pressing hard and creating chances, but failing to convert their early dominance into goals. The narrative took a dramatic turn in the 27th minute when Mali's Wayo Coulibaly received a red card for a reckless challenge on Hannibal Mejbri, leaving the Eagles with ten men for over an hour. This setback, often a death knell in high-stakes matches, paradoxically ignited Mali's resolve.

Despite being numerically disadvantaged, Mali refused to adopt a purely defensive stance. They reorganized their lines, tightened their play, and demonstrated remarkable conviction. Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra emerged as a hero, making a series of crucial saves that defied logic and gravity, repeatedly frustrating Tunisia's sustained attacks. Every tackle and sprint from the Malian players carried a palpable sense of purpose, a declaration that they were still very much in the contest.

The pressure finally told in the 88th minute when Tunisia's Firat Chaouat broke the deadlock. Elias Saad delivered a dangerous, long raking cross from the left flank, and Chaouat rose highest to power a header past Diarra into the top right corner. The Mohammed V Stadium erupted, and Tunisia's bench spilled onto the touchline, believing victory was just two minutes away.

However, Mali's story was far from over. Deep into stoppage time, in the 96th minute, a moment of courage led to a dramatic equalizer. Inside the penalty area, Yassine Meriah's outstretched arm made contact with the ball, leading the referee to point to the spot. Lassine Sinayoko, with immense composure, stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, slotting home his third goal of the tournament when it mattered most. The score was 1-1, forcing the game into extra time.

The additional thirty minutes were marked by tension and exhaustion, with both sides probing cautiously but creating few clear-cut chances. With the deadlock unbroken, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, the ultimate test of nerve. One by one, Mali's players stepped up, converting three of their spot kicks. Tunisia, under immense pressure, managed only two successful conversions, missing three.

When the final kick secured Mali's 3-2 victory in the shootout, Casablanca fell silent, then witnessed the truth: ten men had conquered a seemingly insurmountable challenge. This was not a triumph of luck, but a testament to profound character and unwavering belief. Mali's Eagles, having announced their presence with this classic performance, now advance to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025, where they will face Senegal, who secured a 3-1 victory over Sudan earlier. For Tunisia, a tournament that held much promise concluded in heartbreak at the Mohammed V Stadium.