Second place in Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations will be decided by a drawing of lots today after Guinea and Mali drew 1-1 in Mongomo to finish joint runners-up.
In last night’s match, Kevin Constant put Guinea ahead and Modibo Maiga equalised after Seydou Keita missed a Mali penalty, leaving the west African countries level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
Drawing of lots was last needed at the Cup of Nations in 1988 with Algeria progressing to the knockout stage at the expense of Ivory Coast in Morocco.
Ivory Coast topped the Group D table thanks to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in Malabo through a first-half goal from Max Gradel.
The Ivorians will face Algeria on Sunday in the quarter-finals while Ghana await Guinea or Mali in the other half of a Malabo
double-header. Mali benched Sambou Yatabare and Bakary Sako – the scorers in draws with Cameroon and Ivory Coast – for the match at a packed Estadio de Mongomo in eastern Equatorial Guinea.
The Eagles were quickly into their stride with Abdoulaye Diaby firing just over 65 seconds after the kick-off and the same player had a close-range effort deflected for a corner not long after.
But while the pacey Malians were troubling the Guineans, the Syli Nationale (national elephant) took the lead on 15 minutes from a Constant penalty.
The Tunisian referee initially waved play on when an Ibrahima Traore shot struck the arm of Salif Coulibaly, but changed his mind after hearing from his assistant.
Former AC Milan midfielder Constant was ultra-cool in the 25-degree (77 fahrenheit) heat as he stroked the ball into the middle
of the net after Germain Berthe dived left.
Just three minutes later Mali had a great chance to equalise only for talisman and former Barcelona midfielder Keita to fluff his penalty.
Baissama Sankoh handled a fierce cross from Modibo Maiga and Keita slotted the spot-kick timidly into the arms of goalkeeper
Naby Yattara. Quicksilver Diaby was a continuous threat and Yattara did well to tip his sizzling shot over the crossbar for a corner.
The Malian attacker turned provider two minutes into the second half as the Eagles deservedly drew level through former West Ham United striker Maiga’s header.
