Morocco and Mali share points after two penalty goals | OneFootball

Hosts Morocco had to settle for a draw with Mali after both sides converted penalty kicks.

VAR was needed for both calls with the first coming just before the break after Nathan Gassama was ruled to have handled the ball in the area. Handballs can be ambiguous but this one looked like a simple decision with Real Madrid man Brahim Díaz sending Djigui Diarra the wrong way to put his side ahead.

The second decision was also a correct one. This time it was Jawad El Yamiq very blatantly bringing Lassine Sinayoko down in the area.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bono guessed the right way but Sinayoko's penalty simply had too much power on it as he made it 1-1 in the 64th minute.

The hosts had chances to win the game in Rabat and were the better team overall but ultimately had to settle for a point against a resilient Mali team.

Despite dropping two points, Morocco top Group A on four points though with Mali and Zambia both on two and Comoros on one. The final round of the group takes place on Monday with Zambia taking on Morocco and Mali facing the Comoros.

Incidents: The story of the match

1':

The match begins

6':

Missed opportunity. Brahim Díaz from Morocco took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a direct free kick.

17':

Missed opportunity! Ismael Saibari from Morocco had a right-footed attempt from just a short distance but couldn't find the target.

17':

Missed opportunity! Ismael Saibari from Morocco took a right-footed shot from just a few feet away, but it sails over the bar.

25':

Missed opportunity. Mamadou Sangaré from Mali takes a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sails just over the crossbar.

30':

Missed opportunity! Anass Salah-Eddine from Morocco had a header from the middle of the penalty area but couldn't find the target.

40':

Missed opportunity! Ismael Saibari from Morocco heads the ball from the center of the box, but it goes over the goal and to the left. The chance was created by Azzedine Ounahi, who delivered a cross after a set piece.

43':

Missed opportunity. Ayoub El Kaabi from Morocco attempted a header from the middle of the penalty area.

Morocco takes the lead against Mali with a score of 1-0. Brahim Díaz steps up to the spot and skillfully places the penalty into the bottom left corner with his right foot.Morocco takes the lead 1-0 against Mali. Brahim Díaz steps up and successfully converts the penalty, striking it with his right foot into the bottom left corner of the net.

45 +5':

GOALMorocco: Brahim Díaz (Morocco) scores penalty-kick!

Brahim Díaz scores goal number 2 in the competition (2 matches)

It's now 1-1 between Morocco and Mali. Lassine Sinayoko from Mali scores by successfully converting the penalty with a shot using his right foot.

64':

GOALMali: Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) scores penalty-kick!

Lassine Sinayoko scores goal number 2 in the competition (2 matches)

74':

Missed opportunity! Abde Ezzalzouli from Morocco directed a header from the center of the penalty area after a set piece, but it went wide.

86':

Missed opportunity! Nayef Aguerd from Morocco takes a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it goes wide to the right. He was set up by Jawad El Yamiq.

88':

Missed opportunity! Jawad El Yamiq from Morocco had a header from the middle of the box after a corner kick, but it went off target.

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match