Bafana Bafana's Group E rivals Tunisia and Mali played to a 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations clash on Saturday night.
Africa Cup of Nations
Result: Mali 1-1 Tunisia
Date: 20 January 2024
Venue: Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Mali made two changes from their win over South Africa, as Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma and Al Ahly midfielder Aliou Dieng both made way for Diadie Samassekou and Lassana Coulibaly.
The Eagles had a dream start after Lassine Sinayoko gave them the lead within the first ten minutes with a diagonal strike that went in off the post after he burst through on goal in the box.
Tunisia did not take long to respond as ten minutes later Hamza Rafia levelled matters with a first-time shot in the box from a low cross by Ali Abdi.
The West African nation showed a lot of energy going deep in the first stanza but they did not find spaces in dangerous areas and the sides went to the break level pegging.
Eric Chelle's charges made another great start in the second stanza as six minutes from the break Kamory Doumbia came close to restoring their lead with a low drive that was tipped away by goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said at full-stretch.
Mali continued to push Tunisia high but they had an injury blow 20 minutes before time as Amadou Haidara could not continue and was replaced by Dorgeles Nene.
The game was on the edge with 15 minutes to go and Sinayoko had a good opportunity to give Mali the lead after a cross put him through on goal but he guided a first-time shot over the crossbar.
Chelle made attacking changes in the dying minutes as Ibrahim Sissoko and Youssoufou Niakate entered the fray and immediately lifted up the performance of the Eagles, who pinned Tunisia in and around their box.
Late substitute Bissouma came close to snatching the winner for the Eagles in stoppage time from a free-kick on the edge of the box that flew slightly over the crossbar, as the sides shared the spoils.
Mali collected four points at the top of Group E while the Carthage Eagles got their first point.
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