Comoros vs Mali: The Group A Casablanca Cliffhanger

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Comoros vs Mali: The Group A Casablanca Cliffhanger
It all boils down to a very dramatic final day in Group A as all four teams can still qualify for the AFCON 2025 knockouts. Last-placed Comoros now challenges second-placed Mali in Round 3 for a shot at automatic qualification or the third-place route. But can The Coelacanths take their first victory of the tournament over The Eagles, who are still unbeaten?

Comoros' Final Push After Goalless Openers?

To underline how crazy things have been in Group A, a goalless Comoros can still finish second on the final day. The AFCON 2025 hosts, Morocco, just slipped up in their 1-1 draw against Mali after four missed big chances.

And that draw blew the Group A race wide open, as Morocco has picked up 4 points, which is just two behind second and third place, and only three behind Comoros in last. Considering their abysmal start, this is great news for Comoros, which can mathematically finish second or third. But the reality is much trickier.

To finish second, Comoros needs to beat Mali and hope that Morocco either wins or draws against Zambia, as a win for Chipolopolo leaves only the third slot available. But if The Coelacanths can only muster a draw against The Eagles, then Zambia must lose to Morocco by 3+ goals to give Comoros the lead on goals difference.

Either way, Comoros cannot afford another defeat. In all fairness, their tournament run hasn't been as bad as it seemed. The Morocco opener was always going to be a losable game, while the Zambia draw was well contested with a missed big chance that could've changed everything. Now it's the Mali test next.

Mali Stuns Morocco to Keep AFCON Hopes Alive

After their opening-day draw against Zambia, Mali knew a loss to Morocco could mean death for their AFCON dreams. When the time came, The Eagles showed incredible resilience under the lights in Rabat.

Despite falling behind to a Brahim Díaz penalty just before halftime, Tom Saintfiet’s men refused to fold. They neutralized the Moroccan midfield and eventually found their reward in the 64th minute, when Lassine Sinayoko coolly converted a penalty of his own to seal a 1–1 draw.

That result didn't just earn them a crucial point. It ended Morocco's historic winning streak and injected Mali with a massive surge of confidence. They enter this final clash in Casablanca as the heavy favorites on the top online betting sites, knowing that a win guarantees them a spot in the Round of 16.

The Eagles will be especially confident against Comoros, after beating them twice this year (3-0 in both games) in Group I of the World Cup qualifiers. Kamory Doumbia, who scored half of those six goals, is expected to start against Comoros. Kamory came on in the 90th minute against Morocco following Lassine Sinayoko’s apparent injury.