2015 AFRICA CUP - GROUP D - DAY 04 - Mali vs Cameroon 1:1
Mali vs Cameroon 1:1
The right-back charged into the penalty area to collect a pass from Raoul Loe and controlled brilliantly before slotting home from close range.
Sambou Yatabare had put Mali ahead when he drilled home a low shot from inside the six-yard box.
Yatabare thought he had won it in the final minute when he headed home a free-kick but he was flagged offside.
Mali had made the better first-half chances with Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako twice denied by Fabrice Ondoa.
In the 10th minute Sako cut in from the left-hand side of the area and Ondoa had to tip away his shot at full stretch.
From the corner, Sako floated in a cross from the right and Mustapha Yatabare, older brother of Sambou, headed wide at the far post.
Cameroon hit back and in the 18th minute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's effort was tipped over the bar by Samba Diakité.
Vincent Aboubakar curled a shot just wide for Cameroon at the start of the second half and then Aurelien Chedjou curled a free-kick just over the Mali bar.
But it was underdogs Mali who took the lead in the 71st minute through the unlikely figure of Sambou Yatabare.
The defender found himself on the far side of the six-yard box and chested down a flick-on by Molla Wague before drilling a low shot into the net.
Sambou Yatabare celebrates putting Mali ahead
Cameroon's Aurelien Chedjou came close to putting his side ahead with this free-kick which just cleared the bar.
A surprise result looked on the cards but Cameroon refused to give up and were rewarded when Oyongo timed his run to perfection to meet Loe's lofted pass, controlled the ball and tucked it home from close range.
Sambou Yatabare nearly won it for Mali in the 90th minute when he dived to head home after Seydou Keita's free-kick had been parried by Ondoa, but was correctly given offside.
There was still time for Choupo-Moting to be brought down by Diakite inside the penalty area at the other end but the offside flag had already gone up.
The match was the fifth 1:1 draw in the opening eight group games and left Group D all square after the earlier match between Ivory Coast and Guinea finished with the same score.
Cameroon coach Volker Finke:
"The manner we played this match, especially the second half, it was the manner to win the game.
"The goal of Mali was a matter of concentration.
The players were not concentrated."
Mali coach Henryk Kasperczak:
"We have to underline the fact that it was a very complete performance, with intensity and a good rhythm.
We played quality football against a Cameroon team whose own qualities we are well aware of."
LINEUP, BOOKINGS & SUBSTITUTIONS
MALI
16 Diakité
15 Diakité
23 Wague
04 Coulibaly
03 Tamboura
17 N'Diaye Booked (Doumbia - 80' )
08 Sylla
12 Keita
14 Yatabaré (Traoré - 94' )
07 Yatabaré (Maiga - 86' )
10 Sako
SUBSTITUTES
01 Berthé
02 Diawara
05 Coulibaly
06 Doumbia
09 Traoré
11 Diarra
3 Coulibaly
18 Diaby
19 Konaté
20 Maiga
21 Traoré
22 Samaké
CAMEROON
16 Ondoa
06 Oyongo Bitolo
03 N'Koulou
21 Chedjou
12 Bedimo
04 Loé
13 Choupo-Moting
18 Enoh (Etoundi - 17' )
11 Salli
10 Aboubakar
08 Moukandjo
SUBSTITUTES
01 N'Dy Assembe
02 Kweuke
05 Guihoata
07 N'Jie
09 Bagnack
14 Mandjeck
15 Etoundi
17 Mbia
19 Djeugoue
20 Kom (Etoundi - 78' )
22 Ekeng Ekeng
23 Abogo
Ref: Janny Sikazwe
Cameroon
Mali