Toibibou Kenan of Comoros challenged by Mamadou Sangare of Mali during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Comoros and Mali at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco on 29 December 2025 ©Nour Aknajja/BackpagePix
Monday Dec 29, 2025. 23:01
Mali were held to a 0-0 draw by a stubborn Comoros side in the third and final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A match, which was played at the Mohamed V Stadium, on Monday night.
As a result, the Eagles of Mali – the Group A runners-up – progressed to the Round of 16, where they will take on the Group C runners-up on January 3 in Casablanca. Comoros’ Coelacanths, on the other hand, bowed out of the tournament after finishing third in Group A with two points.
The Eagles asserted their dominance from the first whistle, with Yannick Pandor being the busier of the two goalkeepers. The 24-year-old denied Kamory Doumbia at the near-post in the 18th minute after the Coelacanths were exposed.
Pandor then pulled off a fantastic save to deny Yves Bissouma in the 41st minute, before parrying away Dorgeles Nene’s powerful long-range shot two minutes before the half-time break. The score was 0-0 at the interval thanks to Pandor’s goalkeeping heroics.
Mali continued to dominate possession after the restart. Coach Stefano Cusin decided to introduce experienced attacker El Fardou Ben, who has netted a record 20 goals for Comoros, in the 57th minute as the Coelacanths looked to change the complexion of the game and take the lead.
However, the two teams struggle to create clear-cut chances in the latter stages of the match. Mali were reduced to 10 players after Amadou Haidara was dismissed in the 89th minute, but the Eagles stood firm at the back, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
Comoros 0
Mali 0
Comoros: Yannick Pandor – Ahmed Soilihi (Boura 57′), Kenan Toibibou, Akim Abdallah, Yannis Kari, Yacine Bourhane (I. Mohamed 72′), Benjaloud Youssouf (Bakari 84′), Zaydou Youssouf (M’Changama 72′), Rafiki Said, Myziane Maolida (El Fardou Ben 57′), Faiz Selemani
Mali: Djigui Diarra – Abdoulaye Diaby, Ousmane Camara (A. Haidara 70′), Fode Doucoure, Nathan Gassama, Mamadou Sangare (L. Coulibaly 83′), Mohamed Camara, Yves Bissouma (M. Doumbia 70′), Kamory Doumbia, Lassine Sinayoko (M. Camara 83′), Nene Dorgeles (G. Diarra 70′)