- Lots to choose second qualifier between Guinea, Mali
Lots will decide whether Guinea or Mali reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after they drew in Mongomo.
Modibo Maiga’s header from Abdoulay Diaby’s cross in the second half left Mali and Guinea with identical records, having drawn each of their games 1-1.
Guinea had taken the lead when Kevin Constant coolly dinked home a penalty given for handball by Salif Coulibaly.
Mali should have levelled immediately but Seydou Keita’s penalty was saved.
Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire beat Cameroon to earn a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as Group D winners.
Max Gradel scored the goal that gave the Elephants the only victory in the six matches in the group and saved them from the fate of drawing lots.
He smashed in a drive from 20 yards after taking advantage of a poor touch by Cameroon defender Jerome Guihoata.
Edgar Salli missed two good chances to equalise, hesitating when clean through and also blazing over from in the box.
Those glaring misses left Cameroon bottom of the group – their worst finish at a Nations Cup finals, reports the BBC.
Cote d’Ivoire will be relieved to have avoided the lottery, having gone out in 1988 by that method, as they did just enough to earn the win that guaranteed them passage to the knockout stage for the sixth successive time.
RESULTS
Guinea 1-1 Mali
Cameroon 0-1 Cote d’Ivoire
