Musa Barrow cancelled out Ibrahima Kone’s goal as Gambia and Mali played out to a 1-1 draw in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group F match at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium on Sunday.
While the first half was largely a niggly affair with a lot of fouls and few clear-cut chances, it was Gambia who looked the more fluent and dangerous team going forward.
Mali, though, had the first opening of the afternoon, when Moussa Djenepo got to the byline and put in a dangerous cross, but Massadio Haïdara arrived fractions too late to convert.
In the 22nd minute, Gambia missed an opportunity to go on the lead when Musa Barrow’s free kick hit the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Then a more clearer chance followed Mali moments apart when a ball from Massadio Haïdara put Falaye Sacko level with Jobe Modou, who pulled off a stunning save to parry the forward.
The Scorpions were at it again on the 38th minute when Ablie Jallow hit the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
On the 42nd minute, Massadio Haïdara, unleashed a powerful shot form the edge of the box, but saw his effort deflected just wide by Gambia defender Sonko-Sundberg.
Mali ended the half the stronger of the two sides, though, when Lassana Coulibaly’s header header from the centre of the box was saved in the top left corner by Jobe.
The Eagles came out firing at the start of second half with Adama Traoré seeing a header outside the area after retrieving possession go over the top.
Ibou Touray should have given Gambia the lead in the 60th minute, however the defender headed over from close range.
Eight minutes later Boubakar Kouyaté was at it again when he worked himself into space just outside the box, but once more he shot wide of goal.
Mali maintained the later minutes and went ahead on the 77th minute courtesy of Ibrahima Kone penalty after a Gambian defender committed a foul inside the area.
Bosso Mounkoro came to Mali rescue in the 82nd minute, as he pulled off a fine save to keep out Sulayman Marreh’s free-kick.
Gambia continued to push for an equalizer and they were rewarded in the 89th minute as Barrow converted from the spot to make it 1-1.
Lineups:
Gambia: M. Jobe; O. Colley, N. Sonko-Sundberg, I. Touray, J. Gomez, S. Marreh, Y. Bobb, E. Adams, A. Jallow, A. Ceesay, Musa Barrow
Mali: I. Mounkoro; M. Haïdara, Hamari Traoré, F. Sacko, B. Kouyaté, D. Samassékou, L. Coulibaly, Y. Bissouma, M. Djenepo, Adama Malouda Traoré, I. Koné
