Morocco stayed in control of Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations despite a frustrating 1-1 draw against Mali, with senior defender Romain Saïss describing the result as a timely alert rather than a setback.
The Atlas Lions entered Friday night’s contest at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium aiming to secure qualification early, but Mali matched them in intensity and physical presence.
Morocco created chances and enjoyed strong backing from a packed home crowd, yet failed to turn dominance into victory.
Speaking after the match, captain Romain Saïss struck a measured tone. He acknowledged the disappointment while underlining Morocco’s favourable position in the group.
“We wanted the three points, even though we knew we would face a very difficult match against a strong and athletic Mali side,” Saïss said.
“We finished with a draw, but we remain top of the group and we still control our destiny. Our objective remains clear: finish first and continue playing in Rabat.”
Saïss insisted the result carried value beyond the standings. He described the draw as a useful reminder ahead of the knockout stages.
“This match serves as a small wake-up call,” he added. “It is better for this to happen now in the group phase. Not everything worked perfectly, but we also saw many positive signs. We will take the lessons from this game and use them to secure first place.”
Defender Anass Salah-Eddine echoed that assessment, pointing to missed opportunities as the key difference on the night. He praised Mali’s physical strength but felt Morocco had enough chances to decide the contest.
“The game proved very demanding against opponents who rely heavily on physical power,” Salah-Eddine said. “We created chances and we should have taken them to finish the match in our favour.”
Midfielder Neil El Aynaoui focused on the emotional side of the result, especially given the atmosphere inside the stadium. He admitted disappointment at failing to reward the supporters but stressed the need for a quick reaction.
“I feel disappointed because this result did not reflect what we wanted to give the fans,” El Aynaoui said. “Their support meant a lot to us tonight. We must now move forward, concentrate on the next match, and make sure we win it.”
Morocco now turn their attention to the final group fixture, knowing that victory will secure top spot and maintain momentum as expectations continue to rise.
