Patson Daka struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a 1–1 draw for Zambia and deny Mali a hard-earned victory in a tense Group A clash at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 on Monday night.
Mali appeared poised to collect all three points after dominating long stretches of the contest, but a costly lapse in concentration at the death allowed Zambia’s captain and talisman to deliver a decisive blow, earning the Chipolopolo a valuable point and keeping their campaign firmly alive.
The Eagles of Mali began the encounter with authority, imposing themselves from the opening whistle and dictating the tempo with confident possession play.
Mamadou Sangaré and Lassine Sinayoko orchestrated much of Mali’s attacking movement, while El Bilal Touré’s intelligent runs repeatedly unsettled the Zambian defence.
Pinned deep in their own half, Zambia were forced to absorb sustained pressure as Mali probed patiently for an opening.
Despite their territorial dominance, clear-cut chances proved elusive for Mali, largely due to the inspired performance of Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.
The shot-stopper produced a series of crucial saves to keep his side in contention, none more significant than his penalty stop from Touré, a moment that proved pivotal in preserving parity at a critical stage of the match.
Mali’s persistence was finally rewarded shortly after the hour mark.
A loose ball broke kindly inside the penalty area and Sinayoko reacted quickest, unleashing a thunderous strike beneath the crossbar to give the West Africans a deserved lead and ignite celebrations among their supporters.
Zambia responded with urgency, raising the tempo and committing more numbers forward in search of an equaliser. Fashion Sakala provided an outlet on the counter-attack, using his pace and direct running to stretch the Malian back line.
Yet for much of the second half, Mali’s defence, expertly marshalled by Diaby, stood firm and appeared capable of seeing the game out.
Sensing the need to protect his side’s slender advantage, Mali coach Tom Saintfiet turned to his bench with twenty minutes remaining, introducing fresh legs in defence as Dorgeles Nene and Touré made way for Doumbia and Diarra.
The tactical shift nearly paid off moments later when Sinayoko came close to sealing the contest, his curling effort grazing the top corner.
But Zambia refused to surrender. As the match drifted into stoppage time, a momentary breakdown in marking proved fatal for Mali.
A well-delivered ball into the box found Daka unmarked, and the Leicester City forward rose highest to power a commanding header past the helpless goalkeeper, silencing the crowd and sparking jubilant celebrations among the Zambian players.
The final whistle confirmed a deeply frustrating outcome for Mali, who had controlled much of the encounter but failed to fully capitalise on their superiority.
For Zambia, the dramatic equaliser underlined their resilience and belief, reinforcing their reputation as a side capable of fighting until the very last moment on Africa’s biggest football stage.
