Patson Daka's late header rescues Zambia in dramatic draw with Mali
Patson Daka struck deep into stoppage time to deny Mali a hard-earned victory as Zambia snatched a 1–1 draw in a tense Group A clash at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 on Monday.
Mali appeared on course for all three points after dominating large periods of the contest, only for a late lapse in concentration to allow Zambia’s talisman to intervene at the death and secure a precious point for the Chipolopolo.
The Eagles imposed themselves early, controlling possession and pinning Zambia back inside their own half. Mamadou Sangaré and Lassine Sinayoko dictated the tempo, while El Bilal Touré’s intelligent movement continually stretched the Zambian defence.
Despite their authority, Mali found clear chances hard to come by, with goalkeeper Willard Mwanza producing a string of important saves to keep Zambia in the game. His standout moment came when he denied Touré from the penalty spot, a crucial intervention that preserved the deadlock.
Mali eventually made their pressure count shortly after the hour mark. A loose ball broke kindly for Sinayoko inside the area, and he reacted sharply, driving a fierce finish beneath the crossbar to give the West Africans a deserved lead.
Zambia responded by raising the tempo and committing numbers forward. Fashion Sakala led the charge with pace and direct running, but Mali’s defence, well organised and marshalled by Diaby, held firm for much of the second half.
With 20 minutes remaining, coach Tom Saintfiet moved to protect the advantage, introducing Doumbia and Diarra for Dorgeles Nene and Touré. Sinayoko came close to sealing the win soon after, his curling effort grazing the top corner.
However, Zambia refused to surrender. In the dying moments of stoppage time, poor marking proved costly as Daka rose highest in the box to power home a header, stunning the Casablanca crowd and rescuing a dramatic draw.
The final whistle confirmed a frustrating outcome for Mali, who controlled much of the contest but failed to capitalise fully on their dominance. Zambia, meanwhile, showed resilience and belief, underlining their ability to remain competitive until the very end.
