Mali vanquishes Mauritania to secure Group F top spot

Mali claimed a 2-0 win over Mauritania in their final Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group F match at the Stade Omnisport de Douala in Cameroon on Thursday night.

The win saw the Eagles progress to the knockout phase as Group F winners and they will now take on Equatorial Guinea on 26 January, while Mauritania had already been eliminated from the tournament.

The Eagles got off to the perfect start as they broke the deadlock just two minutes into the encounter through France-based defender Massadio Haidara after a good move by Mohamed Magassouba’s side.

A deflected cross right was turned home by Haidara from inside the box – beating goalkeeper Babacar Diop to hand Mali a 1-0 lead after the Lions of Chinguetti’s defence was exposed.

Mali dominated possession with Yves Bissiouma pulling the strings from the middle of the park as the 1972 Afcon runners-up looked to double their lead.

However, Mauritania were able to contain their neighbours and Mali were leading 1-0 at the interval courtesy of Massadio Haidara’s early goal.

The Eagles continued to control the match after the restart and they were awarded a penalty after Souleymane Karamoko had committed a foul in the box.

Ibrahima Kone then stepped up and scored his third goal from the penalty spot in this year’s tournament – extending Mali’s lead to 2-0 in the process four minutes into the second half.

Didier Gomes Da Rosa, the Mali head coach, decided to make a double substitution – introducing Adama Ba and 16-year-old sensation Beyatt Lekweiry as the Lions of Chinguetti looked to pull one back.

However, the duo could not change the complexion of the game as Mali continued to dominate possession until match referee Bernard Camille blew the final whistle and Mali ran out 2-0 winners.

Mali (1) 2 (M. Haidara 2′, Kone 49′)

Mauritania (0) 0

TEAMS:

Mali:Mounkoro, H. Traoré (Sissako 64′), Kouyate, Sacko, M.Haidara, A.M.Traore (Sinayoko 74′), Bissouma (M, Camara 63′), A.N.Traore, A.Haidara (Dieng 82′), Doumbia, Kone (Coulibaly 75′).

Mauritania:Diop (N’Diaye 81′), Harouna (Karamoko 39′), Dellahi, Aly Abeid, Houssen,Guessouma, Soueid (Lekweiry 62′), Mohsen, Idrissa (Yacoub 81′), Oumar (A. Ba 61′), Ibnou Ba.

SuperSports/Nnenna.O