TNT Sports
Mali finish top
By
Published 02/02/2004 at 16:44 GMT
Mali finished top of Group B on Monday thanks to a 1-1 draw with Senegal, thereby avoiding a quarter-final encounter against hosts Tunisia while Kenya said goodbye to the tournament in style. They thrashed Burkina Faso 3-0 for their first-ever Africa Nati
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
With both Mali already through and Senegal virtually guaranteed a place in the second round, neither team mustered the energy to drive their West African derby.
With coach Henri Stambouli resting several key players including Spurs striker Freddy Kanouté, Mali nonetheless took the lead on 34 minutes when giant striker Dramane Traore headed home a long speculative cross from right back Fousseiny Diawara.
Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf compounded Guy Stephan's woes by lacklustre play and a sizeable amount of lip.
But the Lions of the Teranga made amends in stoppage time of the first half when Salif Diao's free kick was spectacularly headed home by Marseille fullback Habib Beye.
After the break, neither team generated much offence with some careless challenges on both ends.
Senegal nonetheless finished stronger with Diouf hitting the post after a good through ball by Wolves striker Henri Camara.
HISTORIC FIRST FOR KENYA
Meanwhile in Bizerte, Burkina Faso's ultra-slim chances of winning turned to naught after the break when Emmanuel Ake fired home the rebound of a brilliant Dennis Oliech strike in the 50th minute.
Despite numerous saves by Burkina keeper Mohamed Kaboré, the Stallions were at a standstill as Oliech redirected a through ball past him 13 minutes later.
Then, in one of the most spectacular plays since the start of the tournament, Oliech broke into the area in the 83rd and back-heeled the ball to substitute John Barasa who blasted it over Kaboré and under the crossbar.
The win put Kenya third of the group as players stayed on the pitch in a circle to savour their first win in five campaigns and 14 matches.
"I'm very happy because Kenyans will remember that we came to Tunisia and won a match," Kenya coach Jacob Mulee told reporters. "But I'm a little bit disappointed because we peaked too late in the tournament.
Advertisement
Advertisement