CAN-2022: Mali dominates Tunisia, a chaotic end to the match
The shock of Group F turned to the advantage of Mali. Faced with powerless Carthage Eagles, the Mali Eagles won a first victory (0-1) during this CAN-2022. But the meeting turned into chaos when the referee whistled the end of the match even before the 90th minute!
Mali got its African Cup off to a good start on Wednesday January 12 with a first convincing success against Tunisia (0-1). Strong from start to finish, the Malians struggled to materialize, but showed more determination than the Tunisians, who only woke up late in the game.
Mali start the game with more aggression. From the first minutes, Mohamed Magassouba's players were on the offensive, but it was not until the 12th minute to see the first clear opportunity. On another corner, defender Kouyaté rises, but his header goes over the crossbar.
In the 37th minute, the Tunisian goalkeeper is again in difficulty, after a cross from Djenepo that Malouda Traoré fails to recover narrowly. Three minutes later, it's Haidara who tries his luck with a heavy left strike, but his shot also ends up in the small outside net.
At halftime, the Malians registered more chances, but none went on target. Tunisia for its part goes completely through its match. Timorous and unresponsive, the Eagles of Carthage absolutely have to pull themselves together.
Penalty missed by Tunisia
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But after the break, it is once again the Malians who are forging ahead. From the 48th minute, they get a penalty after a hand fault from Skhiri in the box. Confident, Ibrahima Koné transformed him with a left shot and opened the scoring. On fire, the Malians are close to making the break after Adama Traoré's intrusion into the box (51st), but he is stopped by the Tunisian defense.
Tunisia reacts then finally. In quick succession, the Carthage Eagles are closing in on the equalizer. In the 56th, on a free kick, Khazri hits the ball under the bar, but his shot is blocked by goalkeeper Mounkoro. A minute later, teammate Skhiri narrowly headed off the target when Ifa came in after a corner kick. In the 65th minute, Bronn also tried his luck from afar, but his shot was cleared by the Malian goalkeeper.
The Tunisians finally out of their torpor continue to push. In the 74th minute, they even got a penalty after a hand foul from Djenepo in the box, but it was missed by Khazri after a magnificent save by Mounkoro.
No additional time!
Mali even ended the match at 10 after the red card from Bilal Touré, who had just returned, for a bad kick on Bronn (88th). But the end of the match becomes ubiquitous: referee Janny Sikazwe whistles the end of the game for the first time in the 85th minute, before realizing his mistake and resuming the match. But even before the 90 minutes and without additional time, he definitively stops the stopwatch. Furious, Tunisian coach Mondher Kebaier asked for explanations, but the match did not resume. The referees leave the field under escort and the players return to the locker rooms in complete confusion!