Mali got the better of South Africa with a 2-0 win in their 2023 AfricaCup of Nations Group E clash at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo.
The Eagles were making their ninth consecutive AFCON appearance which stretches back to 2008 while Bafana Bafana were back for the first time since 2019 when they reached the quarter-finals.
It was a keenly-contested game in Korhogo with Al Ahly forward Percy Tau firing his penalty kick over the crossbar in the 18th minute.
The game finally game alive on the hour mark when captain and Real Sociedad defender Hamari Traore tapped in from close range off a rebound from Sekou Koita’s free kick. Mali doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Lassine Sinayoko outmuscled Siyanda Xulu after receiving a nice pass from Kamory Doumbia and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Mind over matter, the Eagles???????? takes all three points against South Africa.#Afrosport #AFCON2023 TotalEnergiesAFCON #MLIRSA pic.twitter.com/gSNaJQ5vR9
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) January 16, 2024
Mali are on three points and could book their place in the knockout phase if they defeat 2004 champions Tunisia in their next game.
