Cabinda, Angola (Earth Times - dpa) - A 3-1 victory in their final Group A game at the Africa Cup of Nations over Malawi in Cabinda was not enough Monday to see Mali through to the quarter-finals of the competition, as Angola and Algeria played to a goalless draw in the other group game, played in Luanda. Mali scored twice in the opening three minutes through Fredi Kanoute and Seydou Keita and then added a third late in the game through Mamadou Bagayoko, while Russel Mwafulirwa pulled one back for the southern African country midway through the second half.
Angola finish top of the group on five points. Algeria end up on four points, level with Mali, but progress thanks to their better head-to-head record, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over the Eagles last Thursday.
Mali had a dream start in their quest to get the victory they needed to maintain their hopes of advancing to the next round.
Malawi goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi gifted the West Africans the opening goal after just 37 seconds when his poor clearance found Sevilla striker Kanoute, whose shot from all of 30 meters gave Mali the lead.
In the third minute, Keita added a second with another long-range effort. It was the third goal of the tournament for the Barcelona midfielder.
Not surprisingly, the start shocked the Malawians, who had stunned World Cup finalists Algeria 3-0 in their opening game, and it took them some time to get into the game.
They started getting more of the game midway through the first half, but were not rewarded with any real chances.
Instead, it was Mali who nearly grabbed a third when Mamadou Bagayoko headed just wide from Momo Sissoko's cross.
Malawi came close to pulling one back a minute after the restart when Mahamadou Sidibe was forced into a diving save from one of his own defenders.
They were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 58th minute when Mwafulirwa scored after a goalmouth scramble. The Swedish-based striker should have leveled matters shortly afterwards, but his downward header after a cross from Joseph Kamwendo bounced over the crossbar.
As Malawi had to throw more men forward in search of an equalizer that would have taken them through, Mali made the most of the space they had and Bagayoko scored a third five minutes from the end.
In Luanda, meanwhile, the host nation knew a point would suffice no matter what the result of the other game, which was being played at the same time.
Angola, who were missing top striker Flavio, who had been ruled out through injury, carved out some early opportunities, but then withdrew into their shell as the game drew to its logical conclusion.
In a disappointing first half, Algeria had the first clear-cut chance after 21 minutes when Nadir Belhadj's free-kick found its way to Madjid Bougherra six metres out but Angola goalkeeper Carlos did well to block the defender's shot.
Five minutes later, Ze Kalanga tested Faouzi Chaouchi at the other end with a long-range free-kick while former Manchester United striker Manucho also tried his luck from distance on 31 minutes but the Algerian goalkeeper was once again up to the task.
Both teams were obviously aware of the situation in Cabinda as attacking opportunities dried up totally in the second half although Chaouchi, who was the hero in Algeria's victory over Egypt in a World Cup play-off, almost let a late Jamuana free-kick squirm between his legs.
Angola have been rewarded with a quarter-final in Luanda against the second-placed team in Group B for winning the group, while Algeria will take on the winner of Group B in Cabinda.
Ivory Coast have already qualified from the group while Ghana need to beat Burkina Faso in their final match Tuesday if their are to make it to the knockout stages.
Angola finish top of the group on five points. Algeria end up on four points, level with Mali, but progress thanks to their better head-to-head record, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over the Eagles last Thursday.
Mali had a dream start in their quest to get the victory they needed to maintain their hopes of advancing to the next round.
Malawi goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi gifted the West Africans the opening goal after just 37 seconds when his poor clearance found Sevilla striker Kanoute, whose shot from all of 30 meters gave Mali the lead.
In the third minute, Keita added a second with another long-range effort. It was the third goal of the tournament for the Barcelona midfielder.
Not surprisingly, the start shocked the Malawians, who had stunned World Cup finalists Algeria 3-0 in their opening game, and it took them some time to get into the game.
They started getting more of the game midway through the first half, but were not rewarded with any real chances.
Instead, it was Mali who nearly grabbed a third when Mamadou Bagayoko headed just wide from Momo Sissoko's cross.
Malawi came close to pulling one back a minute after the restart when Mahamadou Sidibe was forced into a diving save from one of his own defenders.
They were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 58th minute when Mwafulirwa scored after a goalmouth scramble. The Swedish-based striker should have leveled matters shortly afterwards, but his downward header after a cross from Joseph Kamwendo bounced over the crossbar.
As Malawi had to throw more men forward in search of an equalizer that would have taken them through, Mali made the most of the space they had and Bagayoko scored a third five minutes from the end.
In Luanda, meanwhile, the host nation knew a point would suffice no matter what the result of the other game, which was being played at the same time.
Angola, who were missing top striker Flavio, who had been ruled out through injury, carved out some early opportunities, but then withdrew into their shell as the game drew to its logical conclusion.
In a disappointing first half, Algeria had the first clear-cut chance after 21 minutes when Nadir Belhadj's free-kick found its way to Madjid Bougherra six metres out but Angola goalkeeper Carlos did well to block the defender's shot.
Five minutes later, Ze Kalanga tested Faouzi Chaouchi at the other end with a long-range free-kick while former Manchester United striker Manucho also tried his luck from distance on 31 minutes but the Algerian goalkeeper was once again up to the task.
Both teams were obviously aware of the situation in Cabinda as attacking opportunities dried up totally in the second half although Chaouchi, who was the hero in Algeria's victory over Egypt in a World Cup play-off, almost let a late Jamuana free-kick squirm between his legs.
Angola have been rewarded with a quarter-final in Luanda against the second-placed team in Group B for winning the group, while Algeria will take on the winner of Group B in Cabinda.
Ivory Coast have already qualified from the group while Ghana need to beat Burkina Faso in their final match Tuesday if their are to make it to the knockout stages.
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