South Africa have been held to a 1-1 draw by Mali in the 2014 African Nations Championship.
After being denied a clear penalty by the referee, Mali conceded one of their own midway through the first half, which Bernard Parker duly converted for South Africa.
However, Mali were the better side throughout the match, and they deservedly equalised after the break when Ibourahima Sidibe volleyed into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Read below to see how action unfolded in Cape Town.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the African Nations Championship encounter between South Africa and Mali.
After both teams came through their opening fixtures with a win, all eyes are on this Cape Town encounter this afternoon as South Africa and Mali look to move to the brink of a place in the quarter-finals.
The team news is in from the Cape Town Stadium. Full details coming up.
SOUTH AFRICA XI: Khune; Mokene, Nthethe, Mere, Mkhwanazi; Tshabalala, Mbatha, Kekana, Pattison; Parker, Mnqele
MALI XI: Diakite; Konate, Keita, M.Traore; Y.Samake, Doumbia, Sidibe, Diarra; Sissoko, A.Traore, I.Samake
As you can see, both teams are missing some of their star players, but that's to keep in line with the rules of the competition. Each squad is made up of players from their respective domestic leagues, so don't be surprised if you aren't familiar with some of the players on show this afternoon.
As hosts, South Africa were automatically entered into this competition as hosts, but Mali had to qualify. They were part of Zone West A group, and they earned their spot in this tournament with a win over Guinea.
We are just a few minutes away from kickoff. South Africa will be expected to come through this match in relatively comfortable fashion, but after their win over Nigeria, you can't rule out Mali.
There are plenty of vuvuzelas present in Cape Town. That's not ideal. What is nice to see is a moments applause for the late Nelson Mandela.
We are underway.
When vuvuzelas are sold to the public, I wonder if they come with a pack of paracetamols? Very annoying. Anyway, South Africa are bossing possession, but Mali have seen a long-range effort miss the target.
Despite that early effort, it's quickly becoming a game of attack versus defence. South Africa are spraying the ball about well, but as of yet, there is no end product.
How is that not a penalty?! It's an absolute stone-waller. South Africa goalkeeper Khune took out Abdoulaye Sissoko, but the referee has given a corner.
CLOSE! Mali should be ahead. The resulting corner came in and Lassana Diarra (no, not the former Chelsea player) volleyed the ball marginally wide from 10 yards.
South Africa attempt to respond through Siphiwe Tshabalala, but the Kaiser Chiefs midfielder curled the ball over the bar from 20 yards.
Mali win a free kick out on the right-hand side, but it's an appalling delivery from Adama Traore, who sends the ball several yards over the bar with half-a-dozen teammates waiting in the middle.
A sweeping move from the hosts ends with Lindokuhle Mbatha cutting inside the defender before firing a 16-yard effort on goal. Unfortunately for the midfielder, his shot was straight at Soumaila Diakite.
PENALTY TO SOUTH AFRICA!
Controversy! South Africa have a penalty, and there was contact, but it was outside of the penalty area. Mali are fuming. Adama Traore has been booked for the initial challenge.
GOAL! South Africa 1-0 Mali (Parker)
Bernard Parker steps up to send the ball into the corner. The goalkeeper went the right way, but he dived too far to his right. That's Parker's 22nd goal for his country.
How will Mali respond to that? They will feel extremely aggrieved with the referee's decisions this afternoon. They've more than matched South Africa too.
It's been all Mali since the goal, and they earn a corner after some good work from Mahamadou Traore. It's a decent ball into the middle, but Itumeleng Khune rises above the Mali attackers to claim the ball.
CHANCE! What a golden chance for Lindokuhle Mbatha. A cross was swung in from the left, and the midfielder was left all on his own at the back post. He had time to bring the ball down before shooting, but he allowed a defender to get back and his shot was blocked.
BOOKING! Siphiwe Tshabalala is booked for a challenge on Abdoulaye Sissoko, although he's a tad unfortunate after slipping at the vital moment.
WOODWORK! Oh so close for Abdoulaye Sissoko. The winger cut inside the right-back, before volleying the ball against the near post, with the ball rebounding out for a goal kick. He really should have scored there.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
Edward Mnqele gets in behind the Mali defence, but despite controlling the pass well, he volleyed the ball miles over the bar. Well, not miles, but you get the idea...
HALF TIME: South Africa 1-0 Mali
The half-whistle whistle goes in Cape Town, and South Africa lead Mali thanks to Bernard Parker's penalty. It's been an entertaining half, with both sides threatening to add more goals.
Just before half time, South Africa stopper Itumeleng Khune attempted to catch his opposite number off his line with a free kick from the centre circle, but Soumaila Diakite just about made it back in time to tip the ball over. I think that a few vuvuzelas would have broken if that had gone in.
The two teams are back out on the pitch at the Cape Town Stadium. Mali get us underway at the start of the second half.
Mali win an early free kick on the right, but South Africa manage to scramble the ball away. A second goal from the hosts could dampen Mali's spirits, but as long as it remains 1-0, they are very competitive in this match.
Mali remain in the ascendancy, but they can't find a way through a resoulte South Africa defence. The hosts are playing on the break, but Mali are doing a good job of stifling any threat.
GOAL! South Africa 1-1 Mali (Sidibe)
That makes things interesting! A long ball is knocked into the path of Ibourahima Sidibe, who gets in on the right side of the penalty area before volleying the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. It's a superb finish.
The home crowd are still blowing their vuvuzelas, but they are stunned. They expect their side to win this match, but they have largely been second best. Remember, they only found the net after controversially being awarded a penalty, when it should have been a free kick.
CHANCE! Mali should be ahead in Cape Town. Another long ball isn't dealt with, and Lassana Diarra sent a left-foot volley wide of the post from 12 yards. Huge, huge opportunity.
Lamine Diawara enters the action in place of Lassana Diarra, who hasn't enjoyed the best of times in front of goal. His namesake, the former Chelsea midfielder, might have netted a couple of the chances that the Malian man had this afternoon.
Abdoulaye Sissoko has really been in the wars today. He is scythed down by Thato Mokene, and then the ball is smashed into his back while laying on the floor! Apart from that, he has been Mali's biggest threat.
CHANCE! Bernard Parker should have his second goal of the match, but after turning his marker inside the penalty area, he dragged his shot into the grateful arms of Soumaila Diakite.
There have been 27 fouls in the opening 74 minutes of this match, but it hasn't been that much of a physical match. South Africa earn a corner after Buhlebuyeza Mkhwanazi sees a shot blocked, but it comes to nothing.
There are just 10 minutes remaining in Cape Town, but the chances are beginning to dry up. If this game ended in a draw, Mali would definitely be the happier of the two with Mozambique still to come in their final match.
Mpho Chabangu comes on in place of Siphiwe Tshabalala. Tshabalala is one of South Africa's senior players, but he hasn't been at the races today.
There's a bit of a break in play as a couple of Mali players struggle with injury and cramp, and that has seen Mahamadou Traore withdrawn from the action.
Adama Traore does superbly down the left before passing the ball into Ibourahima Sidibe, who switches the ball onto his right foot before curling the ball straight at the goalkeeper.
There will be three minutes of added-on time, and three minutes remain until the vuvuzelas will stop.
Mali are really pushing for a winner, but I think that time is going to run out. Adama Traore burst down the left for the umpteenth time, but his shot across goal went out for a throw.
BOOKING! Mpho Chabangu is booked for a foul in the corner, and Mali have a late free kick. It's cleared though, and the referee brings a conclusion to the game.
FULL TIME: South Africa 1-1 Mali
Well that wasn't bad entertainment for a Wednesday afternoon. South Africa have been held to a 1-1 draw by Mali, who will qualify for the next round with a win over Mozambique.
As for South Africa, much depends on how Nigeria do against Mozambique later on today, but if, as expected, Nigera take the three points, South Africa would have to avoid defeat to make the quarter-finals.
That will be all from Sports Mole from this match, but our coverage of the Nigeria match begins in just over 30 minutes, so we hope that you return for that. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
