At the end of a closed match that has long preserved the suspense, Mali qualified for the final of CHAN 2020 by excluding Guinea on penalties (0-0, 5-4 tab) this Wednesday in half -final at the Japoma Stadium in Douala. Passed on penalties, as against Congo in the previous round, Nouhoum Diane’s men will try to win the title for the first time on Sunday against the winner of the shock Morocco-Cameroon scheduled at 7 p.m. GMT, i.e. 8 p.m. in France.
This West African derby got off to a strong start and, after less than a minute of play, Mamadou Doumbia sacrificed himself in front of Guinean striker Gnagna Barry and found himself forced to leave due to injury. Also faced with the exit of Ibrahim Sidibé before the half hour of play, the local Eagles, well padlocked, displayed a disappointing face in this closed and choppy match while Guinea dominated the debates. Served after an incursion by Naby Camara, Barry could have benefited from it but he encountered the stoppage of the foot of a decisive Djigui Diarra. About ten minutes later, the co-top scorer of this CHAN, launched by Alpha Oumar Sow, found the fault of a powerful shot returned with the help of the bar but his goal was logically refused for offside with confirmation of the VAR.
Each team had its half-time
The Malians returned from the locker room with better intentions and Mohamed Bangoura should immediately work to clear a center in disaster. On the corner, Siaga Bagayoko took a head but did not target. Despite a reaction to a free kick from Morlaye Sylla just under the bar but superbly slammed by Diarra, Lappé Bangoura’s men suffered more in this second act, clearly in favor of the Eagles, and Ibrahima Sory Doumbouya saved the furniture on a head from Moussa Koné by replacing his goalkeeper Moussa Camara, author of a failed exit from a free kick.
Guinea misses the mark
However, insufficient to make the difference and the two teams had to go through the extension. Less serene, the Malians grazed the goal against their camp on a missed clearance from Yacouba Doumbia, but Diarra remained vigilant. Nouhoum Diane’s men reacted to two distant strikes from the incoming Bassekou Diabaté but Camara grabbed the ball. Even if the two teams left less and less space, Mamadouba Bangoura had a match point for Guinea in the dying minutes but he sent his shot to the side!
Morlaye Sylla flinched
The Guineans could regret this failure because then, despite the poker stroke attempted by Lappé Bangoura with the entry into play of goalkeeper Sekouba Camara instead of Moussa Camara just before the penalty shootout, the exercise turned in favor of the Malians. Excellent since the start of the tournament and author of the decisive goal in the previous round, Morlaye Sylla, 4e local Syli shooter, flinched indeed and saw his strike repelled by Diarra. In the process, Mamadou Coulibaly did not tremble and converted his shot to send Mali to the CHAN final for the second time in its history after 2016. For its part, Guinea failed at this level for the 2e times and will have to wait …
The compos
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