For their entry into the African Cup of Nations, Monday December 22, in Casablanca (Morocco), the Malians were unable to escape the trap set by Zambia (1-1). They were caught during added time in a match that they generally dominated, without however managing to protect themselves from a comeback from their opponents of the day.
As in the other match of the group, which saw Morocco, the host country, beat the Comoros (2-0), the first half was closed and poor in chances. Apart from a missed penalty by the Malian El Bilal Touré, whose weak shot was repelled by the Zambian goalkeeper Willard Mwanza in the 40the minute, the – very sparse – stands of the Mohammed V stadium did not have much to see during the first act.
We had to wait until 62e minute, thanks to a corner played quickly, for Auxerre striker Lassine Sinayoko to break the deadlock, catapulting the ball into the back of the Zambian net at the end of a rather confusing situation in the area, like the rest of the match.
Once they led, the Malian Eagles left control of the game to their opponents. At first harmless, only showing itself to be dangerous with an acrobatic scissors attempt from Dominic Chanda in the 73rde minute – but Djigui Diarra elegantly captured the ball – the “Chipolopolos” finally won the point of the draw thanks to a goal scored on their second offensive on target: a header from Patson Daka receiving a cross from Mathews Banda, in the 93e minute.
It is a disappointment for Mali, which will try to revive Thursday, in Rabat, against Morocco, one of the favorites of the competition. For its part, Zambia could take a big step towards qualifying for the round of 16 if they win against the Comoros on the same day at the Mohammed V stadium.
Very sparse stands
During the second match of the day, in group B, South Africa beat Angola (2-1), at the Marrakech Stadium, whose stands were also very sparsely filled.
Oswin Appollis first opened the scoring for Bafana Bafana by slaloming through the heart of the opposing defense, before deceiving the goalkeeper with a sharp cross shot (1-0, 21e). Still in the first half, Manuel Show signed the Angolans’ return to the score by perfectly cutting the trajectory of a free kick from the left wing (1-1, 35e). Lyle Foster then gave the South Africans their first success with a beautiful right-footed shot (2-1, 79e).
In the other Group B match, Mohamed Salah saved Egypt from a bad start in the competition by scoring the winning goal against Zimbabwe (2-1), in added time, in the evening in Agadir.
Before the deliverance, the seven-time winners of the CAN had experienced all the sorrows in the world, even returning to the locker room being led 1-0 after the opening score of Zimbabwean center forward Prince Dube (20e).
In the second period, Omar Marmoush first equalized shortly after the hour mark. The Manchester City striker struck his left side, entered the area and struck with all his might from close range to leave no chance for Washington Arubi, the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, heroic until then (1-1, 63e).
Then Mohammed Salah, until then clumsy like the other Pharaons attackers, finally got the better of his defender in the area, turned around and concluded his movement with a half-volley to free the nearly 30,000 spectators at the large Agadir stadium won over to his cause (2-1, 90+1).
On the next day, South Africa will face Egypt on December 26, and the Angolans, led by Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle, have an appointment, the same day, with Zimbabwe.
