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Morocco forced to wait for AFCON knockout place after Mali draw

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Morocco's defender Noussair Mazraoui and Mali's forward Gaoussou Diarra compete for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations Group A match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 26, 2025. [Gabriel BOUYS / AFP]

Morocco missed the chance to guarantee their spot in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after Lassine Sinayoko's second-half penalty earned Mali a 1-1 draw with the hosts on Friday.

The match was a tale of two spot-kicks, with Brahim Diaz giving Morocco the lead from a penalty deep in first-half injury time and Sinayoko replying on 64 minutes.

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