Mali’s Red-Card Rollercoaster Keeps Rolling in AFCON 2025

Match context

The Mali-Senegal clash, on Friday, in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals (Morocco 2025), added another disciplinary moment to the Eagles' already long tournament record after midfielder Ive Bissouma was sent off.

Bissouma received a direct red in the 45+3 minute, leaving Mali a man down to finish the game—a recurring scenario as the Eagles became the side with the most red cards in AFCON since 2021, with five dismissals.

Moreover, Mali shares the AFCON single-edition red-card record after collecting three reds in 2025, the same tally Algeria achieved in 2010 and Ghana in 2012, according to Stats Foot, the French outlet.

Mali had reached the quarterfinals by beating Tunisia on penalties, a match the Eagles completed with ten men as well.

Punchline 1: Mali's red-card collection is growing faster than their trophy cabinet.

Punchline 2: If discipline were a sport, Mali would be world champions—just not in the standings.