RABAT, Morocco (Dec. 26, 2025) (Interstat) — Morocco and Mali opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns with a 1-1 draw Friday at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.

The result defied pre-game projections that heavily favored the home side. A Interstat ELO system gave Morocco a 77.7 percent probability to win, and its game simulator predicted a 1-0 Moroccan victory.

Mali’s substitute Ousmane Camara provided a key assist after entering the match. The contest was notably physical, with seven yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. Both sides now hold identical records in the tournament and across all competitions this season: zero wins, zero losses and one draw.