Morocco's Winning Streak Ends in Thrilling Africa Cup of Nations Draw

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Morocco's world record 19-match winning streak came to a close on Friday in a thrilling 1-1 draw against Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations. The hosts, who were heavily favored to win, were held to a draw by the resilient Malian team, leaving them still in contention for a spot in the next stage of the tournament. Morocco midfielder Brahim Diaz scored a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half, but Mali equalized through Lassine Sinayoko in the second half, also from the penalty spot. Both penalties were awarded after VAR reviews in a highly contested match. With the draw, Morocco tops Group A with four points, while Zambia and Mali are tied with two points each. The Comoros, who drew 0-0 with Zambia earlier on Friday, remain at the bottom of the group with a single point. Despite their impressive record, Morocco has shown signs of nervousness in their games, and their performance against Mali was no exception. They had come under heavy expectation to win, but their unconvincing display has left many wondering if they are truly the favorites they are touted to be. The match saw several contentious moments, including a penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review, and another awarded to Mali after their striker was hacked down by a Moroccan defender. The home side had several chances to win the game, but their goalkeeper made crucial saves to prevent a Moroccan victory. The draw marks an end to Morocco's winning streak, but they still have a chance to advance to the next stage of the tournament. Their next match is against Zambia on Monday, and a win would all but secure their spot in the next round.