Daka's Dramatic Equalizer Denies Mali Victory in Casablanca
Key Takeaways
- Mali and Zambia played to a 1-1 draw in a tightly contested AFCON encounter.
- Patson Daka's 92nd-minute header rescued a point for Zambia after Mali led late.
- Mali dominated chances with 15 shots to Zambia's 7 but couldn't hold their lead.
- Lassine Sinayoko's 61st-minute strike looked to have secured all three points for Mali.
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO — Mali appeared destined for all three points at the Mohamed V Stadium until Patson Daka's dramatic 92nd-minute header salvaged a 1-1 draw for Zambia in a pulsating Africa Cup of Nations clash. The late equalizer stunned the Eagles, who had controlled proceedings for much of the evening and looked set to claim victory after Lassine Sinayoko's 61st-minute opener.
The breakthrough arrived just past the hour mark when Mali capitalized on their sustained pressure. Following a corner kick, Sinayoko pounced from very close range, drilling his right-footed shot into the high centre of the goal after El Bilal Touré's initial effort was blocked. The goal rewarded Mali's dominance, as they had peppered the Zambian goal throughout the match while the Chipolopolo struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. But just when it seemed Mali would hold on, Daka rose majestically in the centre of the box during the second minute of stoppage time, powering his header into the bottom right corner after Mathews Banda delivered a pinpoint cross from the left flank. The Leicester City striker's celebration was wild, knowing he had snatched a precious point from the jaws of defeat.
The tactical battle saw Mali assert themselves through midfield maestro Kamory Doumbia and Aliou Dieng, who dictated the tempo and created numerous chances for their attacking teammates. Zambian goalkeeper Willard Mwanza emerged as his side's hero before Daka's late intervention, producing four crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. His 70th-minute stop to deny Dorgeles Nene's effort from the left side of the box proved particularly vital. At the other end, Djigui Diarra had a relatively quiet evening in the Mali goal, making just one save but remaining alert when called upon, notably denying Dominic Chanda's effort in the 73rd minute.
The teams shared possession almost equally at 52.9%-47.1%, but Mali's attacking intent was evident in their shot count. The Eagles unleashed 15 attempts compared to Zambia's seven, with five finding the target against just two for the Chipolopolo. Mali's inability to convert their superiority into goals would ultimately prove costly, as Sinayoko missed a golden opportunity in the 84th minute when his right-footed shot from the left side of the box sailed narrowly wide. The physical nature of the encounter saw 28 fouls committed between the sides, with both Aliou Dieng and David Simukonda receiving yellow cards in the 65th and 69th minutes respectively.
The turning point arrived in those frantic final moments when Zambia threw everything forward in search of salvation. After Benson Sakala's header from six yards narrowly missed in the 91st minute, Banda's delivery found Daka unmarked, and the striker made no mistake with his clinical finish. The goal transformed what had been a frustrating evening for Zambia into a hard-earned point, while Mali were left to rue their missed chances and inability to see out the victory.
Looking ahead, Mali will travel to face Estrela on December 27, seeking to bounce back from this late disappointment and build momentum in the competition.