Group D: Botswana 1-2 Mali
MALI CLINCHED a place in the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a dramatic 2-1 comeback against Botswana in Libreville last night.
Mogakolodi Ngele put Botswana ahead five minutes into the second half when he linked up with midfield partner Moemedi Moatlhaping to powerfully side-foot home from 10 yards.
But, with one eye on proceedings between Guinea and Ghana in Franceville, Mali struck back six minutes later. Maiga’s header was saved by Botswanan keeper Modiri Marumo, but Garra Dembele was on hand to smash home the rebound and give Mali a glimmer of hope.
The Eagles were rewarded with 15 minutes to play when Seydou Keita won them the game, curling Mali into the quarter-finals with brilliant shot from the edge of the box.
What it means: Keita’s winner sees Mali leapfrog Guinea into second place in Group D. As Anne Robinson once said, “Botswana, you leave with nothing”.
YouTube Credit: TheWassim1990
Group D: Ghana 1-1 Guinea
Emmanuel Badu’s first-half wonderstrike earned Ghana a 1-1 draw against Guinea in Franceville and a place against Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Sunday.
Badu opened the scoring on 28 minutes with a genuine contender for goal of the tournament. The Udinese midfielder flicked the ball up to himself on the edge of the box before firing a sweet right-footed volley past Moussa Yattara.
Guinea knew that a draw would keep their own qualification hopes alive and struck back in first-half stoppage time when Abdoul Camera’s attempted cross looped over Kwaresy for the equaliser.
Sadio Diallo and Ismaël Bangoura both came close as Guinea pushed on for a winner in the second half, but their challenge was derailed when Stuttgart’s Mamadou Bah was sent off for a second yellow with 20 minutes to play.
What it means: Ghana wrap up top spot and a quarter-final against Tunisia in Franceville on Sunday. With a win, a draw and a defeat from their three games, Guinea are out.
YouTube Credit: iFootball10
Next up: We take a couple of days off before the quarter-finals begin on Saturday afternoon. Zambia take on Sudan at 16:00 GMT while Ivory Coast play Equatorial Guinea at 19:00.
