Angola 4-4 Mali: Despite Controversy, African Cup of Nations Kicks Off

Big Match: Angola vs Mali
Event: African Cup of Nations
Location: Angola
Time: 19:00 GMT

Despite the controversy hanging over the tournament, it still went ahead as scheduled, and the opening match served up to be quite a spectacle.

After the announcement that Togo had pulled out of the tournament following the tragic shooting that took place on Friday that left several members of the team dead, a moment of silence was held prior to the match.

First half

Once the match got underway, it was the home side that dominated proceedings. First sight of goal fell to Flavio after just three minutes as he tested the keeper with a firm shot from outside the box.

It wasn't long before another half chance went begging for the hosts, as Mabina was sent clear down the right before firing an superb cross into the danger area only to find no one got on the end of it.

Despite the rather frantic start, the flow of the match was being seriously hampered by a series of injuries and in 24 minutes, Dede, the first casualty, was stretchered off.

In the 36th minute, Angola made their dominance count as they took the lead through a Flavio header.

It was just what Angola deserved and six minutes later it was 2-0 courtesy of the same player. Mabina whipped in another fantastic cross and Flavio, again unmarked, bags his second. 

Second half

Despite the excellent Flavio, Angola were pretty average in the first 45 minutes. But Mali were even worse, and they needed something from somewhere.

They started the second period with a renewed belief, and just a few minutes into the half, Diarra passed up a huge opportunity to pull a goal back. The Real Madrid man's effort was met with a stunning save by Carlos Hernandes.

Just as Mali were getting closer and closer to a goal, their hopes were dashed as Angola were awarded a penalty. Bagayoko brought down Gilberto—about a clear a penalty as you'll ever see!

Gilberto picked himself up and needed two attempts to dispatch the penalty. The first one was chalked off for encroaching, and if that wasn't enough, Angola were awarded another penalty six minutes later. Again Gilberto was brought down but not as clear cut as the previous. Nonetheless, Manucho stepped up and put the hosts 4-0 up.

The goals were coming thick and fast now and on 79 minutes Mali pulled one back. Fernandes dropped an innocuous cross and Keita, in the ensuing melee, stabbed it home at the third attempt. Surely that would have no affect on the result? 

On 88 minutes, Mali halved the deficit. Tamboura put in a hopeful cross, and Kanoute produced a magnificent header to beat Fernandes to make it 4-2. There was very little pace on the cross, but the Sevilla man showed all his class to leverage it goal-wards.

The 90 minutes had passed and four minutes were added on, but Mali had finally woken up. Was it a little too late?

In the 93rd minute, Angola failed to deal with another ball into the box. Keita was at the back post to stab it home.

4-3 now...

94th minute, and it's unbelievable scenes. Mali have come from 4-0 down to make it 4-4 in the space of just 14 minutes. Fernandes is at fault again, not getting enough on another hopeful ball into the box and can only parry it to Yattabare, who fires the rebound home.

Reaction

Seydou Keita believes the physchological boost from Mali's comeback against Angola bodes well for the rest of the African Cup of Nations.

Barcelona midfielder Keita, who surprisingly started on the bench before entering the fray 35 minutes in, told Eurosport, "There was a lot of pressure on us. I condeded a penalty and they kept scoring."

"I just couldn't imagine we could fight back like that."

"We wanted to win but of course we are happy to get a point in the end."

"We were bad in the first half, mentally we weren't really at the races."

"It didn't look like we would get anything but luckily we managed to get a point and we are happy.

"It's good for us mentally, our confidence, but we have to be careful to not make too many mistakes.

"There is a lot to correct before the next match."

Angola 4-4 Mali

1 - 0 : Flávio (37')
2 - 0 : Flávio (42')
3 - 0 : Gilberto (67')
4 - 0 : Manucho (74')
4 - 1 : Seydou Keita (79')
4 - 2 : Frédéric Kanouté (88')
4 - 3 : Seydou Keita (90')
4 - 4 : Mustapha Yatabare (90')