At the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast held South Africa to a 1-1 stalemate as both teams played their last matches before the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.
Themba Zwane notched Bafana Bafana ahead in the ninth minute after Franck Kessie was robbed of the ball just outside the box. The Mamelodi Sundowns’ attacking midfielder placed the ball beyond the reach of the Ivorian goalkeeper after receiving the ball from Sphephelo Sithole.
Sebastien Haller drew the AFCON 2023 hosts level six minutes after the hour mark with a header from close range. The Borussia Dortmund forward left goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in no man’s land after he got on the end of a cross from Monaco’s Wilfried Singo.
Fin du match avec la victoire des #Aigles du #Mali ???? sur l’#ArabieSaoudite 3-1 !! pic.twitter.com/j3YwYS2s0F
— FEMAFOOT (@femafoot) October 17, 2023
Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia played their second game in five days at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao, where they fell to a 3-1 loss to Mali.
The Green Falcons, playing off the back of a 2-2 draw with Nigeria, fell early to a well-taken goal by Moussa Doumbia, who plies his trade in Saudi Arabia. The winger drove in from the left before letting fly a low strike that caught Mohammed Alowais unaware.
Eagles captain Hamari Traore doubled his side’s lead in the 42nd minute with a solo effort. After nutmegging a Saudi player and running half the length of the field, the Real Sociedad fullback slotted his strike past the goalie.
Al-Hilal midfielder Salem Aldawsari, who came off the bench against the Super Eagles, drew one back for Roberto Mancini’s side with the best goal of the game. The 32-year-old curled an incredible effort from outside the box into the top far corner, beating Ismael Diawara in goal for Mali.
French-based forward Lassine Sinayoko restored Mali’s two-goal lead with a thumping finish on the 71st minute mark, putting the ball past the Saudi goalie with his left foot.
The victory meant the West Africans won all two of their friendly matches during this international window, while the Green Falcons settled for one draw and one defeat back-to-back against African sides.
