GUINEA WILL CONTEST the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after lots were drawn to determine whether they or Mali would progress from the group.
The two sides played out a 1-1 stalemate on Wednesday after having each drawn their previous two games in the group, meaning their fates had to be determined by a random draw.
Guinea were the successful side in the proceedings run by the Afcon Organising Committee in Malabo on Thursday, meaning they advance behind Group D winners Cote d’Ivoire.
They will now meet Ghana in the last eight. The unusual step to deciding who qualified for the knockouts had to be taken after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw left both Guinea and Mali with identical records overall in Group D. Cote d’Ivoire’s 1-0 win over Cameroon prevented all four sides from having to take part in the draw.
Both head coaches had spoken before the proceedings on Thursday of the need to amend the rules in order to establish a more fair way of deciding such an outcome in future.
“We must find a more sporting way, fairer. This does not correspond to a sporting spirit,” said Mali boss Henri Kasperczak, while Michel Dussuyer added: “Mali do not deserve to be eliminated in this way, just as we do not.
“Mali didn’t lose a game – they played very well in the tournament.”
Guinea star Ibrahima Traore, meanwhile, believes the matter could have been decided with a penalty shootout following Wednesday’s game.
“It’s not fair for both teams – I don’t make the rules but we could do it on penalty kicks or extra time,” he said. ”The team who deserve to win would do it on the pitch.”
