Morocco's Record-Breaking Run Halted as Mali Secure Crucial Draw
Morocco's remarkable 19-match winning streak came to an abrupt end on Friday as Mali fought back to secure a vital 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The result leaves the tournament hosts still searching for confirmation of their place in the knockout stages, despite sitting atop Group A with four points from two matches. It was a sobering reminder that even the continent's finest, according to FIFA rankings, cannot take victory for granted on home soil.
Tale of Two Penalties Defines Contest
The match unfolded as a story of contrasting spot-kicks, with Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz giving Morocco the lead from the penalty spot deep into first-half stoppage time. The diminutive playmaker sent Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra the wrong way after Nathan Gassama was adjudged to have handled the ball whilst attempting to halt Diaz's mazy run.
However, Morocco's advantage proved short-lived. On 64 minutes, Lassine Sinayoko stepped up to convert Mali's own penalty after being felled by a clumsy challenge from Jawad El Yamiq. The Auxerre striker kept his composure despite having been cautioned moments earlier, stroking home the equaliser to restore parity.
Hakimi's Absence Continues to Tell
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, the reigning African Player of the Year, remained conspicuously absent from proceedings as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury sustained whilst playing for Paris Saint-Germain in November. His former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe was spotted amongst the 63,844-strong crowd, apparently sporting a Morocco shirt bearing Hakimi's number two.
Without their talismanic full-back, Morocco struggled to maintain the intensity that had characterised their opening victory over Comoros. Coach Walid Regragui's side appeared to lose their way in the second period, unable to impose their usual dominance.
Pressure Mounts Ahead of Zambia Clash
The draw means Morocco must now secure victory against Zambia on Monday to guarantee their progression as group winners. Mali, meanwhile, remain very much in contention on two points, level with Zambia who managed a goalless draw with tournament minnows Comoros earlier in Casablanca.
"We'll look back at the second half and see what the problem was, but we didn't play the way we did in the first half," reflected Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi. "We didn't impose our game and had to drop off. The penalty changed the game a bit."
As the final whistle echoed around the Rabat stadium to a chorus of jeers from disappointed home supporters, Morocco's path to knockout glory suddenly appears less certain. The 2012 champions Zambia await, and nothing less than victory will suffice for a nation expecting continental glory on home soil.