AFCON 2019: Khazri free-kick earns Tunisia a point against Mali

Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri and Mali's Molla Wague battle for the ball in 1-1 draw in the second match of their group stage.

Wahbi Khazri rescued a point for Tunisia against Mali in Suez as they boosted their chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations last 16.

His deflected free-kick earned a 1-1 draw that takes them second in Group E.

Mali had taken the lead when goalkeeper Mouez Hassen spilt Diadie Samassekou’s corner into his own net.

Tunisia play Mauritania in their final group game on Tuesday (20:00 BST) at the same venue, while Mali face Angola at the same time in Ismailia.

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The Eagles of Carthage started brightly in the sweltering heat, and former Sunderland striker Khazri saw his well-struck free-kick clatter against the crossbar in the fourth minute.

Two minutes later, Khazri tried an audacious lob of Djigui Diarra from inside the centre-circle, but the Mali goalkeeper scrambled across to push the ball behind.

However, it was at the other end that the goalkeeping frailties were most evident as Hassen – one of three Tunisian changes – flapped at a cross in the first half before putting through his own net after the break.

Tunisia pulled level when Khazri’s set-piece took a wicked deflection. They move above Angola into the second automatic qualification spot.

Mali looked fresher than Tunisia in midfield but their impressive pressing was not translated into a serious threat in the first half, while Tunisia lacked the pace that might have helped them score from one of their counter-attacks.

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Aside from one second-half goal for each side, nothing much was produced as Mali tried to keep the ball in the Tunisian half to secure a draw that could be very useful for them to win the group, although Moussa Marega could have won it for the Eagles in the closing minutes.

This was another performance that confirmed the slow Tunisian start in the Africa Cup of Nations, and an ambitious Malian side showed once again they are a dangerous opponent, whoever they come up against.