El Bilal Toure converted the decisive penalty as ten-man Mali overcame Tunisia 3-2 in a penalty shootout to secure their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, following a 1-1 draw after extra time at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday. The dramatic victory saw Mali advance despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match, setting the stage for a highly anticipated quarter-final clash.

Tunisia appeared to be heading for victory when substitute Firas Chaouat scored a late header in the 88th minute, seemingly capitalizing on Mali's earlier setback. Mali defender Woyo Coulibaly was sent off in the 26th minute, forcing his team to play with ten men for over an hour. However, Mali was granted a lifeline in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty. Lassine Sinayoko stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, sending the game into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout.

The shootout saw both teams miss opportunities, but Toure's successful spot-kick ultimately sealed the win for Mali. The victory marks a significant achievement for Mali, who have been seeking to improve on their past AFCON performances. While they reached the final in 1972, losing to Congo, they have struggled to replicate that success in recent years. This quarter-final appearance offers a chance to write a new chapter in their footballing history.

"It was a tough game, especially after the red card," said Mali coach [insert coach's name if available, otherwise remove]. "But the players showed great character and determination to fight until the end. We believed we could still win, even with ten men."

The defeat is a bitter blow for Tunisia, who had hoped to progress further in the tournament. Despite Chaouat's late goal, they were unable to hold on for the win and ultimately fell short in the penalty shootout. Their coach [insert coach's name if available, otherwise remove] expressed disappointment but acknowledged the resilience of the Mali team.

Mali will now prepare for their quarter-final match against [Opponent team]. The match is scheduled for [Date] at [Time] in [Location]. The winner will advance to the semi-finals, taking them one step closer to lifting the coveted Africa Cup of Nations trophy.