Max Gradel of Ivory Coast celebrates his goal against Cameroon in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash, in Malabo on Wednesday. (EPA)
DPA/Malabo
Ivory Coast advanced to the quarter-finals of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over Cameroon, while Guinea and Mali drew 1-1, with Guinea qualifying instead of Mali by the drawing of lots at a ceremony yesterday.
Lots were drawn to determine second place in Group D after both countries finished level after their three opening-round matches. Ivory Coast won the group.
Three successive 1-1 draws for both teams meant they could not be separated by points, their head-to-head result, goal difference or goals scored. Guinea will now play Ghana in Sunday’s quarter-final in Malabo.
“The gods of football fortune smiled on us. It has been a long road up to now,” Amara Dabo, financial director of the Guinea Sports Ministry, who participated in the draw, said.
A representative from both countries drew a ball each from a bowl with Mali’s football association president Boubacar Diarra going first and pulling out the one that placed them third in the group and out of the running.
Dabo then drew the ball that confirmed his side in second place behind group winners Ivory Coast.
“Unfortunately we have to split up two teams that are even, perfectly joined, but we had no other choice but to proceed to the drawing of lots,” said CAF president Issa Hayatou at the draw in Equatorial Guinea.
It was only the third time in African Nations Cup history that a draw had to be conducted to separate two teams after the group phase.
Previous drawing of lots in 1972 and 1988 favoured Congo and Algeria.
Max Gradel gave Ivory Coast the winner in the 35th minute as the Elephants finished atop Group D with five points and a final-eight showdown with Algeria on Sunday. Cameroon were eliminated with two points.
Kevin Constant converted a penalty in the 15th minute to give Guinea the lead. Mali veteran Seydou Keita saw his penalty attempt stopped in the 17th minute before Modibo Maiga equalized after 47 minutes.
The first two quarter-finals will be played tomorrow with Congo playing DR Congo and Tunisia taking on Equatorial Guinea.
In Malobo, Cameroon keeper Joseph Ondoa made a strong save after just five minutes, sweeping Wilfried Bony’s attempt wide.
Ivory Coast threatened again in the 19th minute as Gradel’s header was turned away by Ondoa.
Gradel had a superb individual effort to give Ivory Coast the lead in the 35th minute, blasting home about 20 yards out from the left side.
Cameroon finally had a good chance into first half stoppage time but Edgar Salli’s strike blazed over the bar.
Even though just one score would have kept them in the running to advance, Cameroon seemed to lack the push in a second half which didn’t have many highlights.
The Guinea-Mali showdown in Mongomo certainly started with a bang. Mali thought they would take the lead after five minutes but Abdoulay Diaby’s attempt is deflected wide from seven yards out.
Mali wanted a penalty seven minutes later but the referee Mohamed Said Kordi did not call a foul on Fode Camara for his push on Mustapha Yatabare.
Guinea were awarded a penalty a minute later when Salif Coulibaly handled Ibrahima Traore’s shot. Constant came in and coolly chipped it down the middle to make it 1-0 after 15 minutes.
The Tunisian referee Kordi pointed to the spot just a minute later for Mali as Baissama Sankoh was adjudged to have handled Maiga’s shot in the box. But the most experienced player on the pitch, Seydou Keita, struck a weak left footer and Guinea keeper Naby Yattara goes to his right to stop the shot.
Mali were close after 34 minutes but Maiga’s blast was tipped over by Yattara. Henryk Kasperczak’s team equalized 1-1 two minutes into the second half as Diaby sent a fine cross to the far left post where Maiga headed home from five yards out.
Mali were close after 53 minutes but Yattara did well to get low and save Mamoutou N’Diaye’s attempt.
Both sides pushed forward looking for the winner—and avoid the drawing of lots—but neither defense would let them get through.
