Clinical Mali victory after South Africa miss penalty
Percy Tau fired a spot-kick wide in the opening half in Korhogo and it proved a costly miss as the clinical Eagles were never in danger after netting twice. Victory took Mali to the top of the group on goal difference from Namibia, who shocked Tunisia 1-0 in the first match of a double-header.
Mali are a bogey team for South Africa, having twice eliminated them in the quarter-finals in previous Cup of Nations meetings. The Malians came closest to winning the African showpiece in their 1972 debut as they reached the final before losing 3-2 to Congo Brazzaville in Yaounde.
South Africa did better in their first appearance 24 years later, defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final in Johannesburg, but have not lifted the trophy again in nine subsequent appearances. While Mali did not have a single home-based player in the starting line-up, South Africa chose nine, including seven from domestic giants Mamelodi Sundowns.
The mainly Mali-supporting crowd in the 20,000-capacity stadium built in the northern city for the Cup of Nations saw a lively end-to-end start to a much anticipated showdown.
South Africa squandered a chance to take the lead on 19 minutes when Tau, who plays for Egyptian and African giants Al Ahly, blazed a penalty over the crossbar to his huge embarrassment. It was awarded after the referee went to the VAR touchline monitor and saw Sikou Niakate elbow Evidence Makgopa after Aubrey Modiba crossed into the area.
South Africa were almost made to pay for the missed spot-kick in first-half added time when Sinayoko was foiled by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. A couple of Bafana Bafana defenders failed to clear the ball, allowing Sinayoko to break clear but Williams dashed off his line to divert the ball away from danger.
Mali
Read on besoccer.com
