Mali and South Africa booked their places in the quarter finals of the Afcon Cup by beating Burkina Faso and Morocco respectively, with the former set to meet hosts Ivory Coast and Bafana Bafana to face Cape Verde.
It was an own goal from Edmond Tapsoba that gave the Eagles a third-minute lead, with Mali having several chances to add to their advantage before half-time. However, Lassine Sinayoko did manage to make it 2-0 early in the second half with a finish, but Bertrand Traore pulled a goal back for the Stallions from the penalty spot just before the hour mark.
Mali managed to see out the game and reached the last eight for the first time since 2013. It means Eric Chelle's side will face the Ivorians on Saturday. In the other game, South Africa shocked 10-man Morocco after Evidence Makgopa score the opener in the 57th minute, following a lengthy VAR (Video Assistant Referee) check for offside.
Bafana Bafana did manage to supply what turned out to be a surprise victory over the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists after Teboho Mokoena curled in a classy free-kick past Bono to confirm the upset in style. After Mothobi Mvala was pulled up for handling Ayoub El Kaabi's shot, Morocco’s Hakimi missed the chance to level in the 85th minute, only to fire the spot-kick against the crossbar.
And, further still, Sofyan Amrabat was dismissed in stoppage time. The 1996 champions will now take on the unbeaten ‘Blue Sharks’ of Cape Verde on Saturday for their place in the Afcon Cup 23 semi-finals.
