In a Group E opener at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, South Africa faced a formidable challenge against Mali. The first half proved to be an entertaining spectacle, culminating in a goalless draw. However, the pivotal moment occurred in the 19th minute when Percy Tau missed a penalty, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.
Mali emerged victorious with two well-timed goals in the latter half, ultimately securing the win over Bafana Bafana.
Hamari Traore gave Mali the lead in the 60th minute, Traore showcased his quick reflexes, seizing the opportunity to score from centimeters out after South Africa’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, barely managed to keep out a curling free kick from Sekou Koita.
Lassine Sinayoko doubled the lead in 66th minute. Sinayoko positioned himself goal-side and deftly shrugged off two defensive challenges to score from close range. The combination of Traore and Sinayoko’s efforts proved decisive in securing Mali’s triumph.
South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, reflected on the match in a post-game interview. Despite acknowledging his team’s commendable performance, Broos identified two critical factors that contributed to their defeat. Firstly, the missed penalty in the early stages of the game proved to be a pivotal setback. Secondly, Broos highlighted the physical prowess of Mali, particularly in the second half, as a significant challenge that ultimately tilted the balance in favor of the opposition.
Broos stated, “I have to congratulate my team for the performance today. I think we lost the game due to two factors, first being the missed penalty. Secondly, the physical power, especially in the second half, of Mali. These reasons made us lose the game today, but the overall performance of South Africa was commendable. I believe that if we had converted the penalty, the dynamics of the game would have been different.”
Bafana Bafana next group match is against neighbors Namibia on Sunday at the same venue while Mali meets Tunisia.
