AFCON 2015: Day 8 Scores, Results, Standings and Africa Cup of Nations Schedule
Group D remains evenly poised in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after Day 8 of the competition saw Ivory Coast snag a late equaliser to peg Mali back, while Guinea and Cameroon also claimed a point apiece from their clash.
The results means that every fixture in the group has thus far ended 1-1 and no team is yet to take an advantage in the search for a place in the next round.
It makes for a dramatic last day of the group stage next Wednesday, with full recap of Saturday's two Group D fixtures discussed in more detail ahead.
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| Date | Time (GMT/ET) | Stage | Fixture |
| Jan. 17 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group A | Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo |
| Jan. 17 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group A | Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon |
| Jan. 18 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group B | Zambia 1-1 Congo DR |
| Jan. 18 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group B | Tunisia 1-1 Cape Verde Islands |
| Jan. 19 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group C | Ghana 1-2 Senegal |
| Jan. 19 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group C | Algeria 3-1 South Africa |
| Jan. 20 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group D | Ivory Coast 1-1 Guinea |
| Jan. 20 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group D | Mali 1-1 Cameroon |
| Jan. 21 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group A | Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Burkina Faso |
| Jan. 21 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group A | Gabon 0-1 Congo |
| Jan. 22 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group B | Zambia 1-2 Tunisia |
| Jan. 22 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group B | Cape Verde Islands 0-0 Congo DR |
| Jan. 23 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group C | Ghana 1-0 Algeria |
| Jan. 23 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group C | South Africa 1-1 Senegal |
| Jan. 24 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Group D | Ivory Coast 1-1 Mali |
| Jan. 24 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Group D | Cameroon 1-1 Guinea |
| Jan. 25 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group A | Congo v Burkina Faso |
| Jan. 25 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group A | Gabon v Equatorial Guinea |
| Jan. 26 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group B | Cape Verde Islands v Zambia |
| Jan. 26 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group B | Congo DR v Tunisia |
| Jan. 27 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group C | Senegal v Algeria |
| Jan. 27 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group C | South Africa v Ghana |
| Jan. 28 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group D | Cameroon v Ivory Coast |
| Jan. 28 | 6 p.m./1 p.m. | Group D | Guinea v Mali |
| Jan. 31 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Quarter-Final 1 | Group A Winner v Group B Second Place |
| Jan. 31 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Quarter-Final 2 | Group B Winner v Group A Second Place |
| Feb. 1 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Quarter-Final 3 | Group C Winner v Group D Second Place |
| Feb. 1 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Quarter-Final 4 | Group D Winner v Group C Second Place |
| Feb. 4 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Semi-Final 1 | Quarter-Final 1 Winner v Quarter-Final 4 Winner |
| Feb. 5 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Semi-Final 2 | Quarter-Final 2 Winner v Quarter-Final 3 Winner |
| Feb. 7 | 4 p.m./11 a.m. | Third-place | Semi-Final 1 Loser v Semi-Final 2 Loser |
| Feb. 8 | 7 p.m./2 p.m. | Final | Semi-Final 1 Winner v Semi-Final 2 Winner |
| 1 | Congo | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Gabon | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Equatorial Guinea | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Burkina Faso | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| 1 | Tunisia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | DR Congo | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Zambia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 1 |
| 1 | Senegal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Ghana | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Algeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | South Africa | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
| 1 | Ivory Coast | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Mali | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Cameroon | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Guinea | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Ivory Coast 1-1 Mali
Having placed third in the previous two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, Mali had every reason to be unafraid of the Ivory Coast threat on Saturday and showed as much with early intent.
Their breakthrough came after just six minutes of play when Bakary Sako scorched home the game's opener. The Elephants left it until the 87th minute to equalise through Max Gradel, SandalsForGoalposts confirming the 1-1 tie:
Mali were happy to convert the fixture's opener, but it soon became clear that they might have peaked too early, welcoming an onslaught of Ivorian pressure at times.
Herve Renard's side still managed to construct clear opportunities in front of goal, but as John Bennett of the BBC attested, the counter-attack style was a risky strategy for the Eagles:
It's in times such as this that a calming leader figure is welcome and Roma's Seydou Keita provided just that for the large part, according to Bennett:
Try as they might, the Ivory Coast just couldn't find their groove, however, which was just as well in Mali's eyes, who were steadily slipping out of contention in terms of chances made.
Andy Scott of Agence France-Presse remarked that no matter how Renard tinkered with his side, the Ivorians remained frustrated:
Just when it seemed as though Mali were destined for Group D's throne, however, Paris Saint-Germain right-back found Gradel in the Eagles' box, finishing low into the opposition goal.
Given their wealth in possession, per WhoScored.com, one can't argue the Elephants hadn't been knocking. A more accomplished presence in font of goal may have even won them the fixture:
It wasn't to be, though, and all four Group D combatants sit tightly poised, with Mali and Ivory Coast claiming the most temporary of advantages over their peers.
Cameroon 1-1 Guinea
Cameroon and Guinea upheld the Group D record of 1-1 draws on Saturday, playing to that scoreline and sharing the spoils to stay level on points with Mali and the Ivory Coast.
Each team took their time in finding a rhythm, but before long, both were enjoying a share of the possession and chances on goal in what was a finely balanced head-to-head.
Vilker Finke's side took the more deadly edge in initiative, though and after 13 minutes, Benjamin Moukandjo sent the Indomitable Lions into a 1-0 lead after sizzling in his effort straight from a corner.
Guinea's attack wouldn't let that setback affect their spirits, however, and Colin Udoh of ESPN illustrated just how impressive Ibrahima Traore was in twisting between four defenders before rasping a left-footed attempt in from long range:
Both strikes upheld a stellar tempo to the game, with Mukandjo's opener sending each team into a more immediate state of urgency.
WhoScored.com showed that while Guinea had a bigger chunk of possession, it was Cameroon looking more dangerous in the final third during the first 45 minutes:
Unfortunately, the pace couldn't quite be maintained across 90 minutes and the chances in front of goal became more sparse as the fixture wore on, depth in talent seemingly giving Cameroon an advantage.
It wouldn't amount to anything, though, and Guinea took their point knowing that a win against Mali on Wednesday will see them through to the next round, the Lions needing a victory over Ivory Coast.
