Djigui Diarra delivered a standout display to claim Man of the Match honors as Mali beat Tunisia on penalties to book a place in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals.The Eagles won 32 in the shoot-out after a gruelling 11 draw over 120 minutes at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.Malis night became complicated in the 27th minute when Wayo Coulibaly was sent off, forcing Diarra and his defence to absorb heavy Tunisian pressure with ten men.Tunisia finally broke through in the 88th minute, Firat Chaouat heading in an Elias Saad cross to make it 10 and seemingly end Malis journey. But deep into stoppage time, a handball by Yassine Meriah offered Mali a lifeline and Lassine Sinayoko buried the 90+6minute penalty to force extra time.With legs tiring, clear chances were rare in extra time, and Diarras composure loomed large as the game went to penalties.In the shoot-out, he made the decisive interventions while his teammates converted three kicks to Tunisias two, sealing a dramatic victory and setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Senegal.
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