Ibrahim Diaz scored a penalty in the first half, and Lassine Sinayoko also converted a penalty in the second half, as Mali drew 1-1 with Morocco on Friday at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, during the second match of Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Morocco needed a win to secure its qualification to the round of 16 from the top of the group, but Mali did not give up and equalized in the second half, boosting its hopes in the group. The match was physically demanding with fierce tackles between players from both teams. Morocco, which started the tournament with a 2-0 win over Comoros, now leads the group with four points. They are followed by Mali and Zambia with two points each, while Comoros are at the bottom of the group with one point. Qualification will be decided in the third round when Morocco faces Zambia and Mali faces Comoros. Morocco dominated possession and attacked for most of the match, but it faced a cautious defense and determination from the Malian team, which held on to the draw despite Morocco's continued attempts and the changes made by coach Walid Regragui in the second half.
