Mamadou Sangare was named Man of the Match after a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Comoros that secured the Eagles’ place in the Round of 16.
Mali’s goalless draw with Comoros in Casablanca was more about nerve than spectacle, and Mamadou Sangare embodied that resilience on a night where margin for error was tiny. The Eagles needed just a point to advance from Group A and, despite failing to score, they controlled large spells of the game while keeping their composure under growing pressure.
Comoros carried a real threat on the counter, with Meziani Maoulida breaking in behind the Malian backline in one of the match’s clearest chances, only to hesitate at the key moment. Mali answered before half-time when Lassine Sinayoko forced a superb save from the Comorian goalkeeper, underlining how finely balanced the contest remained.
After the break, Mali continued to dictate territory but struggled to find a way through, and the tension spiked late on when Amadou Haidara was sent off in the 88th minute for a dangerous challenge.
Down to ten men, the Eagles dug in, with Sangare’s industry and composure central to a gritty defensive stand that saw them over the line and confirmed their progression alongside group winners Morocco.
