VAR Controversies Penalties and Salah Strike Highlight AFCON Group Matches on Friday

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The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) delivered an action-packed Friday, December 26, with penalties, VAR interventions, and dramatic late saves shaping key group stage matches across Morocco.

At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, hosts Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali in a match dominated by spot-kicks and officiating decisions.

The first breakthrough came deep into first-half stoppage time when Brahim Diaz calmly converted a penalty after VAR confirmed a handball by Mali defender Nathan Gassama.

Mali responded in the second half, earning a penalty of their own after Lassine Sinayoko was fouled by Jawad El Yamiq. Sinayoko rolled his shot under goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to level the score.

The closing minutes belonged to Mali’s goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who made a sharp leg save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri and later prevented an own goal in stoppage time. The draw keeps Morocco top of Group A with four points, Mali and Zambia share two points each, while Comoros remain at the bottom with one point.

Earlier, Comoros and Zambia played out a 0-0 stalemate. Comoros initially thought they had taken the lead when Myziane Maolida tapped into an empty net following a fine cross from Rafiki Said. However, VAR ruled out the goal due to a foul by Yacine Bourhane in the buildup.

Comoros came close again late in the game when Faiz Selemani’s header struck the crossbar, with Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza caught off his line. The result leaves Zambia needing a win against Morocco in Rabat, while Comoros face Mali in Casablanca on Monday.

In Group B, Egypt confirmed their place in the knockout stage with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Africa, despite being reduced to ten men. Captain Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot just before halftime after VAR confirmed a foul by Khuliso Mudau.

Shortly after, Egypt went down to ten men when Mohamed Hany received a second yellow card for fouling Teboho Mokoena. South Africa pressed aggressively in the second half but were denied by a crucial stoppage-time save from goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, ensuring Egypt held onto their slim lead.

Egypt now tops Group B, with South Africa second on three points. Angola and Zimbabwe remain in contention after playing out a 1-1 draw in Marrakech. Angola took the lead through Gelson Dala in the 24th minute, only for Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona to equalize just before halftime. The second half saw both sides trade chances and yellow cards, but neither could find a winner. Both teams earned their first points of the tournament, leaving Group B tightly poised ahead of the final round of group fixtures.