VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM MOROCCO COACH WALID REGRAGUI AND PLAYER NEIL EL AYNAOUI AND MALI COACH TOM SAINFIET AFTER 1-1 DRAW IN AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS MATCH (RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST) SHOWS: RABAT, MOROCCO (DECEMBER 26, 2025) (STATS PERFORM – Access all) 1. MOROCCO COACH WALID REGRAGUI SPEAKING AT POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER 1-1 DRAW WITH MALI IN AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS MATCH AT PRINCE MOULAY ABDELLAH STADIUM 2. (SOUNDBITE)(French)(ROUGH TRANSLATION) MOROCCO COACH WALID REGRAGUI, SAYING: "Good draw, a little frustrating for us, because I think we played a solid game against a good Mali team that got us into the competition with great intensity, lots of duels, they pushed us a little to our limits, but I think we did too, after that, a game with situations where we have to be more clinical. When we have the number of chances we had, and the number of balls in the box, we have to be more clinical, but it will serve us well. In any case, congratulations to Mali. I think they wanted a point, they got it, and we're continuing on our way, as I said. The most important thing for us is to finish first in the group. We have the opportunity on Monday, if we win, to finish first in the group and stay in Rabat, which was the goal. The first phase for us is to qualify, and the second phase will come in the round of 16. So there you have it. We must also congratulate the players who gave a lot of intensity in this match and didn't give up, even though we gave away the penalty. But that's part of this kind of match. In any case, we had a good opponent, and that's good for us." 3. MOROCCO MIDFIELDER NEIL EL AYNAOUI SPEAKING AT POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER DRAW 4. (SOUNDBITE)(French)(ROUGH TRANSLATION) MOROCCO MIDFIELDER NEIL EL AYNAOUI, SAYING: "Thank you, but I am disappointed with tonight's result. It's true that it wasn't the result we were hoping for. The result doesn't reflect the atmosphere that all the fans created in the stadium. So, I am disappointed, but now we have to quickly move on, see what went wrong, try to correct our mistakes, and then focus on Monday." 5. MALI COACH TOM SAINFIET SPEAKING AT POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER DRAW 6. (SOUNDBITE)(French)(ROUGH TRANSLATION) MALI COACH TOM SAINFIET, SAYING: "I am very proud of my team's performance. I think we came up with a good strategy for this match against a very strong team. After the start of the game, we didn't create many chances, but neither did Morocco. I was a little surprised that we conceded a penalty. A week ago, we had, two hours, reading the CAF rules, which say that in this situation it's not a penalty, but we got the penalty and at half-time we talked, we played well, we were going to press and control the midfield, that's our goal, and in the second half I think we played well. We created chances, we got a penalty, and then ten minutes before the end, there was another chance for another penalty. It was also handball for us this time. It's a shame that the referee didn't see it because it was exactly the same situation as the first penalty. But anyway, we got a draw, so yes. But I think that if he had given a penalty, we would have won the game, and that was a shame. It's also a shame that we received a lot of yellow cards. We need to recover for the last game because there are only two points at stake. And we're going to win that against Comoros, but I'm proud of my team, of my players. Everyone did a very good job, and that's good for the future." STORY: Hosts Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday (December 26), ending their world record run of wins and leaving them still to make sure of progress to the next stage. Midfielder Brahim Diaz tucked away a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half but Mali equalised from the spot midway through the second half through Lassine Sinayoko. Both penalties were awarded after VAR reviews in a tempestuous clash at the end of a busy day of action at the tournament. Morocco top the Group A standings with four points while Zambia, who they meet next on Monday, have two points along with Mali while the Comoros are bottom of the group on a single point. (Production: David Grip)
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