AFCON : Dominant 10-man Mali advance despite Comoros draw

The Eagles looked the better side in opening stages, dominating the first five meetings with superb passing but they could not test Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor. Comoros took control of the game in the middle of play but they lacked the final ball in the last third.

The best chance of the game fell to Comoros with only eight minutes played when Myziane Maolida latched onto a through ball from the midfield but before he could pull the trigger, defender Nathan Gassama came to the rescue for Mali with his clearance resulting into the first corner of the game.

Comoros almost took the lead from the resulting corner but Mali custodian Djigui Diarra of Tanzania champions Young Africans, came out of his line to clear the danger. Mali forced their first corner in the 14th but the delivery was not good enough to help them break the deadlock.

As at the 15th minute, Mali remained the dominant side, with Comoros resorting to playing defensive style of play. Faïz Selemani then forced Comoros custodian Yannick Pandor to make another great save in the 16th minute, before captain Yves Bissouma’s long-range effort went over the bar.

The first yellow card went to Comoros defender Kenan Toibibou after bringing down Nene Dorgeles, who was advancing towards goal. Afterwards, Comoros came surging forward in numbers from a counter-attacking move initiated by Yacine Bourhane, but the final touch by Rafiki Saïd was not good enough to yield anything.

With five minutes left to the half-time break, Selemani almost put Mali ahead with a curled effort from outside the 18-yard area but Pandor pulled another great save to deny the Eagles.

Just like the first half, Mali started with urgency, Selemani wasting a great opportunity, before Mamadou Sangaré saw his effort go inches wide. Sangaré then gave Mali a free-kick from the right side after being fouled, but a shot from Bissouma went wide after the ball hit the wall.

That was the last involvement for Tottenham midfielder Bissouma, as he was replaced by Mamadou Doumbia in the 62nd minute. El Fardou Ben missed Comoros’ best chance of the second half after his shot from a one-on-one situation was superbly parried away for a corner by Diarra.

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