Mali 1-1 Zambia: Daka stuns Mali with last-gasp leveller
Mali were denied at the death in Casablanca
Patson Daka nodded in a brilliant injury-time equaliser to hand Zambia a scarcely-deserved point in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Mali this afternoon.
The Leicester striker ran on to Mathews Banda’s inswinging cross from the right to dive full-length and head powerfully past Djigui Diarra from 10 yards.
It was arguably more than Moses Sichone’s side merited after a performance that was high on commitment but woefully lacking in quality.
El Bilal Touré missed a first-half penalty for Mali but they took the lead when Lassine Sinayoko fired in from close range.
It wasn’t enough, though, and it leaves hosts Morocco as the only side to have claimed three points from the opening round of matches in Group A.
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Mali much the better side in the early stages
Mali looked sharp in the opening stages and zipped the ball around nicely on a lush surface perfect for flowing football.
Tom Saintfiet’s men had the first chance when some slick passing created an opening for Nene Dorgeles but his right-footed shot slipped past the far upright.
Sinayoko was next to try his luck with a more powerful effort but Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza got down well to make the save.
Mali’s dominance looked like it would pay off after 37 minutes when Banda clumsily crashed into Dorgeles inside the area and referee Abdulkadir Artan pointed to the spot.
Touré took the spot-kick but his firmly struck effort to the bottom right-hand corner was superbly saved by Mwanza.
Mali remained on the front foot with Zambia content to play on the break. But the Copper Bullets continued to miss their targets with forays forward repeatedly ending with a stray pass in the final third.
Sinayoko strikes
The Eagles finally made the breakthrough just after the hour mark.
Sinayoko’s initial effort was blocked but the ball rebounded nicely for the Auxerre striker and he hammered it into the roof of the net.
It took 72 minutes for Zambia to register their first shot on goal but it almost resulted in the equaliser, Dominic Chanda’s overhead kick acrobatically repelled by Diarra.
Sinayoko almost added a brilliant second, cutting in from the left and firing in a shot that flashed inches wide of the upright.
It was to prove a critical moment as with time almost up, Daka connected with Banda’s superb cross to send Zambia’s small band of supporters wild.