Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali in an international fixture at the Grand Stadium in Tangier, as a late equaliser from Gaoussou Diarra denied the Atlas Lions a third victory during the September and October international break.
The result means Morocco and Mali shared the points after an entertaining contest in which neither side appeared content to defend deep. Morocco took the lead before half-time through a penalty from Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, but Mali responded in the closing stages when Feyenoord forward Diarra converted from a set-piece situation.
The draw also mirrors the outcome between the two nations at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when the Atlas Lions and the Eagles of Mali also finished level.
Morocco had looked on course to maintain their perfect record during the current international period after Ezzalzouli put them ahead in the 35th minute.
The Real Betis forward successfully converted a penalty to give Mohamed Ouahbi’s side the advantage. Ezzalzouli had earned the opportunity himself before stepping up to beat Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa.
It continued what had been a productive period for Morocco. They entered the match having won both of their previous fixtures during the September-October international break, beating Gabon 2-0 and Lesotho 2-0 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Mali, however, arrived in Tangier in similarly strong form.
Anthony da Silva’s side had also recorded two victories before facing Morocco, defeating Cape Verde 3-1 before following that result with a 1-0 win over Liberia.
Despite Morocco taking control of the match with Ezzalzouli’s first-half penalty, Mali remained in the contest and eventually found their reward with 13 minutes of normal time remaining.
Diarra levelled in the 77th minute following a set-piece, firing home with his left foot from the left side of the six-yard box.
The goal was particularly significant for the Feyenoord forward, who scored his second goal for the Mali national team.
His intervention changed the outcome of a match Morocco had appeared likely to win. Instead of collecting three points and completing a third successive victory during the international break, the Atlas Lions had to settle for a draw on home soil.
Mali’s response also ensured that their own positive sequence continued. After victories over Cape Verde and Liberia, the Eagles avoided defeat against Morocco and secured what was described as a deserved draw.
The match was competitive throughout, with both teams willing to attack rather than simply protect their positions. Morocco’s first-half advantage was enough to put them in control at the interval, but Mali’s persistence eventually produced an equaliser.
For Morocco, the result brings an end to a run that had been moving towards three victories in three matches during the September and October international break.
Their previous successes against Gabon and Lesotho had given them momentum, but Diarra’s late intervention prevented them from maintaining a perfect record.
Mali can take confidence from the result after recovering from a one-goal deficit against a Morocco side that had been in strong form. Their two earlier wins had already provided a positive start to the international period, and the draw against Morocco added another encouraging result.
The meeting in Tangier therefore ended with honours even. Ezzalzouli’s penalty gave Morocco the lead in the 35th minute, while Diarra’s 77th-minute strike ensured the points were shared.
The outcome also repeated the pattern from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when Morocco and Mali could not be separated.
Neither team was able to find a winner in the final stages, leaving Morocco’s winning run halted and Mali rewarded for their late response.
After an open contest at the Grand Stadium, the final score reflected the balance between two sides that entered the match enjoying strong runs of form: Morocco 1-1 Mali.
