Mali suffered a shock defeat to Equatorial Guinea in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Cameroon on Wednesday night.
Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional won 6-5 on penalties following a goalless stalemate and they progressed into the quarter-finals, while the Eagles of Mali are eliminated from the tournament.
Mali should have opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute when Ibrahima Kone broke free down the middle but the striker failed to beat the on-rushing Jesus Owono.
The Nzalang Nacional shot-stopper was called into action in the 32nd minute, as he pulled off a fine save to keep out Adama Traore’s stinging effort from distance.
The Eagles went close again five minutes later through Amadou Haidara but the midfielder’s effort from the edge of the box forced Owono into yet another fine save.
Equatorial Guinea could have broken the deadlock just before the halftime break but Iban Salvador failed to direct his header on target from close range.
Both sides had chances in the closing stages of the first half, however poor finishing saw them head into the break with the score level at 0-0.
The second half proved to be the complete opposite of the first, as both sides were guilty of committing numerous fouls, which saw a couple of players pick up yellow cards.
Equatorial Guinea’s best chance of the second stanza arrived in the 80th minute but defender, Carlos Akapo, blasted over from inside the area.
Moussa Doumbia, who was non-existent throughout the game, failed to trouble Ovono from close range at fulltime and extra time followed.
Mali did most of the attacking in the first-half of extra-time, but Ovono continued to frustrate the Eagles as he denied substitute Moussa Djenepo with a good save in the 105th minute.
Spain-born Santiago Eneme was looking lively for Equatorial Guinea and forced Mali custodian Bosso Mounkoro into a great save after beating his marker four minutes after the restart.
Mounkoro then made another good save to deny the Equatorial Guinea striker to ensure that game ended in a goalless stalemate, and penalty shootout followed.
Equatorial Guinea went on to win 6-5 on penalties after Ovono proved to be the hero – denying Falaye Sacko from the spot-kick.
How they lined-up:
Mali: Ibrahim Mounkoro – Hamari Traore, Falaye Sacko, Boubacar Kouyate, Massadio Haidara – Amadou Haidara (Aliou Dieng 107), Mohamed Camara, Yves Bissouma (Adama Traore Noss 70) – Adama Malouda Traore (Moussa Djenepo 70), Ibrahima Kone (El Bilel Toure 83), Moussa Doumbia
Equatorial Guinea: Jesus Owono, Carlos Akapo, Esteban Obiang, Basilio Ndong – Saul Coco, Pablo Ganet, Jose Machin (Ruben Belima 80), Frederico Bikoro (Santiago Eneme 80) – Iban Salvador, Josete Miranda (Jannick Buyla 62), Dorian Hanza (Emilio Nsue 62)
