The celebrations in Rabat have been put on ice. On Friday, December 26, 2025, the host nation Morocco saw their record-breaking 19-game winning streak come to an end as they were held to a gritty 1–1 draw by Mali.
The result leaves Group A wide open, with the Atlas Lions needing at least a point in their final match to mathematically secure their place in the Round of 16.
The Match Breakdown: A Tale of Two Penalties
In a highly tactical encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) took center stage, intervening for both goals.
45+5’ | Brahim Strikes First: After a half of sustained pressure, Morocco finally broke through. Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz won and converted a penalty after a handball by Nathan Gassama. It was Díaz’s second goal of the tournament, sending the 63,000-strong crowd into a frenzy. ⚽️🎯
64’ | The Eagles Strike Back: Mali refused to be intimidated by the atmosphere. In the second half,
Lassine Sinayoko drew a foul from Jawad El Yamiq inside the box. After a VAR review, Sinayoko stepped up himself to bury the equalizer, ending Morocco's incredible run of 10 consecutive clean sheets. 🦅🥅
Late Drama: The match ended in a frantic 10 minutes of stoppage time. Morocco substitute Youssef En-Nesyri had a golden chance to win it in the 94th minute, but his low drive was expertly saved by Mali’s Djigui Diarra.
The Mbappé Factor 🇫🇷🇲🇦
The biggest surprise of the night wasn't on the pitch, but in the VIP stands. Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé was spotted rocking a Morocco jersey—specifically the number 2 shirt of his close friend Achraf Hakimi.
Mbappé, taking advantage of the La Liga winter break, was seen cheering passionately for the Atlas Lions alongside CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Moroccan FA President Fouzi Lekjaa.
Group A Standings: The Final Push
With Zambia and Comoros playing out a 0–0 draw earlier in the day, the group remains undecided heading into the final matchday on Monday.
Key Takeaway
While Morocco failed to join Egypt (who became the first team to qualify earlier today) in the knockouts, they remain in a commanding position.
However, Walid Regragui will be concerned by his team's inability to kill off the game—a rare lapse in what has been a near-perfect year for the Atlas Lions.