Tunisia bids farewell to the African Cup, losing to Mali on penalties

Bilal Toure scored the decisive penalty kick in Mali’s 3-2 victory over Tunisia on penalties after the end of regular and extra time in a 1-1 draw, leading his country to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations on Saturday.

Mali played with ten players since the 26th minute, after Woyou Coulibaly received a direct red card after a strong challenge on Hannibal Mejbri.

Tunisia scored in the beginning when Elias Saad sent a cross into the penalty area, and substitute Firas Chaouat headed it past Mali goalkeeper Gigi Diarra.

Lassen Senayoko equalized for Mali in the sixth minute of stoppage time from a penalty kick after sending a powerful shot that passed under the arm of Tunisian goalkeeper Ayman Dahmane.

The two teams resorted to extra time for half an hour in two halves, but the result did not change, so the referee ruled for penalty kicks from the penalty spot.

The Malian national team will meet Senegal in the quarter-finals in Tangier next Friday.