Mali vs Tunisia Player Ratings: Ten-Man Les Aigles Win 3-2 on Penalties After 1-1 Draw to Reach AFCON Quarter-Finals

Pure dramatic night at the Stade Mohammed V Stadium as Mali National Football team grabbed a wonderful comeback victory against Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16. It was an absolute rollercoaster ride for both teams and a taste of the passion and unpredictability of knockout football. This match had everything written in it. From crunching tackles to late equalizers, it was a perfect fairytale finish. It was a chaotic, heart-stopping affair that will be talked about for a long time.

Mali's task looked almost impossible when Woyo Coulibaly was shown a straight red card just 26 minutes in. Against a talented Tunisia side, playing with ten men for over 90 minutes should have been a death sentence for the Les Aigles. Although most of the fans believed that the game was over after that early incident, the boys from Mali kept their belief.

Tunisia huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the house down, that is, until Firas Chaouat's 88th-minute header seemed to finally break Malian hearts.

But this Mali team are built differently and has a spirit you just can't quantify. In the dying moments of stoppage time, they earned a penalty, and Lassine Sinayoko stepped up with ice in his veins to send the game to extra time.

The extra 30 minutes were tense and cagey, leading to the ultimate drama of a penalty shootout, where Mali held their nerve to complete a truly heroic victory. Here's a detailed look at the Mali Vs Tunisia Player Ratings.

Tunisia Player Ratings vs Mali

Goalkeeper

Aymen Dahmen - 5.5: We didn't see much from him for most of the game. He was helpless for the stoppage-time penalty, which was drilled home. In the shootout, however, he failed to make a single save, which is ultimately what cost his team. He looked a bit lost during the spot-kicks, never really getting close to any of them. A disappointing end to a long night for the keeper.

Defenders

Ali Abdi - 6.0: A very busy performance, with a massive 113 touches. He was a constant outlet on the left, but his final product was seriously lacking, failing with 12 of his 13 crosses. He then blazed his penalty over the bar in the shootout. A night of immense effort but very little quality when it mattered most. What stood out to us was his frustration, which was palpable.

Montassar Talbi - 7.0: Probably Tunisia's best player on the night. He was composed on the ball, with an 83% pass accuracy, and made several crucial clearances. He tried to build from the back and looked like one of the few players who kept his head. It's a shame his teammates couldn't match his level of composure under pressure.

Dylan Bronn - N/A: His night was over almost before it began. He picked up an early yellow card and was then forced off with an injury after just 12 minutes. Impossible to give him a fair rating based on such a short cameo.

Yan Valery - 6.5: He put in a real shift, playing 111 minutes. He was solid defensively and attempted to support the attack, winning half of his duels. Like Abdi on the other flank, his final ball could have been better, but you couldn't fault his work rate. He was a steady presence, if not a spectacular one.

Midfielders

Hannibal - 7.5: The bright spark for Tunisia, especially in the first hour. He was a menace, drawing five fouls and constantly trying to make things happen. He was full of energy and creativity, and it was a surprise to see him subbed off. From our perspective, Tunisia lost their main creative threat when he left the pitch. A really promising performance.

Ismaël Gharbi - 6.0: Very neat and tidy in possession, boasting an 88% pass accuracy. However, he was largely anonymous in an attacking sense. He played it safe far too often and failed to provide the penetration needed to break down a ten-man opposition. A performance that lacked any real risk or reward.

Ferjani Sassi - 6.5: The captain played the entire 120 minutes and kept the ball moving, but we expected more from him. With a man advantage for so long, he should have dominated the midfield, but he often found himself overwhelmed by Mali's sheer work rate. A solid but unspectacular display from the skipper.

Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud - 5.0: A night to forget. He picked up an early yellow card and looked off the pace. His manager clearly agreed, hooking him at halftime. He was a passenger for 45 minutes and offered very little to his team.

Ellyes Skhiri - 7.0: A typically industrious performance from the midfielder. He covered a ton of ground over 120 minutes, was very secure on the ball, and even forced a good save with a shot from distance. He did his job effectively, a real engine in the middle of the park.

Forwards

Hazem Mastouri - 5.5: He was completely isolated and ineffective. He only had 11 touches in 70 minutes, which tells its own story. He struggled to find space or get involved in the play at all. It was no surprise when he was substituted.

Substitutes

Yassine Meriah - 4.5: Came on for the injured Bronn and had a nightmare. He was okay for most of the game but committed a moment of madness, conceding the 96th-minute penalty with a clear handball. He scored his penalty in the shootout, but the damage was already done. That single error cost his team the victory in normal time.

Firas Chaouat - 7.0: Made the perfect impact, coming off the bench to score what he must have thought was the winning goal. A great header and a real striker's instinct shown. Can't ask for much more from a substitute.

Elias Saad - 7.0: Another substitute who made a positive impact. He provided the assist for Chaouat's goal and then coolly dispatched his penalty in the shootout. A very effective cameo.

Mohamed Ben Romdhane - 5.0: Brought on to see the game out and for the shootout, where he saw his weak penalty saved. A very poor contribution.

Manager

S. Trabelsi - 5.0: His team had a man advantage for over 90 minutes of football and failed to win. The tactical setup was too slow and predictable, failing to stretch a resilient ten-man Mali. While some of his subs made an impact, the overall failure to capitalize on such a huge advantage falls squarely on his shoulders.

Mali Player Ratings vs Tunisia

Goalkeeper

Djigui Diarra - 8.0: His kicking was erratic all night, putting his team under unnecessary pressure. But when the time came to be a hero, he stepped up magnificently. He made a couple of good saves in the match and then saved two crucial penalties in the shootout. His heroics are the reason Mali are through.

Defenders

Amadou Dante - 7.5: A warrior. He was relentless in the tackle, winning three of them and an incredible 11 duels. He fought for every single ball and embodied the spirit of his team. An absolutely colossal defensive performance on the left flank.

Abdoulaye Diaby - 8.0: What a performance. He was an absolute mountain at the back. He made a staggering 11 clearances and won almost everything in the air. He read the game beautifully and was a calming presence in the face of immense pressure. A true leader.

Ousmane Camara - 7.5: Just like his central defensive partner, he was outstanding. He put his body on the line time and time again, contributing with seven vital clearances. He was a massive part of the defensive wall that Tunisia simply could not break down. Unflappable.

Woyo Coulibaly - 2.0: A moment of complete madness. His reckless challenge earned him a straight red card after just 26 minutes, putting his team in an almost impossible position. He let his teammates and his nation down. A truly dreadful and selfish error that nearly cost them everything.

Midfielders

Mahamadou Doumbia - 6.0: He was sacrificed tactically after the red card, coming off before the hour mark. He had picked up an early yellow but was doing a decent job before the game plan had to be torn up. A victim of circumstance more than anything.

Yves Bissouma - 8.5: Our man of the match. This was a midfield masterclass. He was absolutely everywhere, winning a ridiculous 13 duels and drawing five fouls. He single-handedly ran the midfield despite being a man down. The missed penalty was the only slight blemish on a performance of pure dominance and leadership. A sensational display.

Lassana Coulibaly - 7.5: The perfect partner for Bissouma. He was a machine, winning all five of his tackles and covering every blade of grass. He ran himself into the ground for the cause, eventually being substituted through injury. A heroic effort.

Aliou Dieng - 7.0: Another tireless soldier in the Malian midfield. He did the dirty work superbly, making three interceptions and protecting his back four with great discipline. His energy and defensive awareness were crucial after the red card.

Mamadou Sangaré - 6.5: He put in a great shift, hassling and harrying the Tunisian defence. He was full of running and his energy was infectious. He played his part in the grander defensive plan before being substituted late in normal time.

Forwards

Lassine Sinayoko - 8.5: The hero of the hour. He ran a lonely furrow up front for most of the game but never stopped working. Then, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, he coolly slotted home a 96th-minute penalty to force extra time. He backed it up by scoring again in the shootout. A clinical and courageous performance.

Substitutes

Dorgeles Nene - 6.0: Came on and provided an energetic outlet, but was desperately unlucky to see his penalty hit the post in the shootout.

El Bilal Touré - 7.0: Brought on late and showed immense composure to score his penalty in the shootout, a crucial contribution.

Hamari Traoré - N/A: Came on late for the injured Coulibaly.

Ibrahima Sissoko - N/A: A late substitute for extra time.

Manager

T. Saintfiet - 8.5: A tactical masterclass in adversity. After the early red card, he organized his team into a compact, resilient unit that was incredibly difficult to break down. His players fought for him, and his belief in them paid off. To mastermind a victory in these circumstances is the mark of a brilliant manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Yves Bissouma