Zambia Strike Late to Hold Mali in AFCON 2025 Opener

Leicester City striker Patson Daka headed home in injury time as Zambia held Mali to a 1-1 draw in their opening Africa Cup of Nations fixture on Monday.

Daka, who has scored just once for Leicester in the English Championship this season, launched himself at a Mathews Banda cross in the second added minute to earn the Chipolopolo an unlikely point.

Mali dominated much of the Group A encounter but saw El Bilal Toure squander a penalty late in the first half at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. Toure’s effort was saved by Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza after Banda had been penalised following a VAR check for catching Nene Dorgeles in the box.

Mali did take the lead shortly after the hour mark when Auxerre forward Lassine Sinayoko fired home at the second attempt from close range following a corner. However, Daka’s late intervention denied Mali victory, a result that will suit hosts Morocco, who defeated Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s opening match in the same group on Sunday.

Morocco and Mali will meet next in Rabat on Friday, while Zambia, who have now failed to win any of their 10 AFCON matches since lifting the trophy in 2012, face Comoros.