Liberia held at one all in Mali

Jan 20, 2002

BAMAKO, Saturday - Hosts Mali snatched a late goal to draw 1-1 with Liberia on Saturday in the opening match of the African Nations Cup before a capacity 60,000 crowd.

Mali 1 Liberia 1BAMAKO, Saturday - Hosts Mali snatched a late goal to draw 1-1 with Liberia on Saturday in the opening match of the African Nations Cup before a capacity 60,000 crowd. Midfielder Seydou Keita from French club Lorient was the Malian Eagles’ hero, controlling a loose ball with his chest before firing a left-foot shot into the far corner of the net in the 87th minute. A draw was a fair result as Liberia sat back for most of the second half, content to defend a lead given to them by former superstar George Weah just before half-time on a beautiful afternoon in the Malian capital. The 1995 World, European and African Footballer of the Year Weah rose to head an Oliver Makor corner past goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe and an unkind bounce left three Malian defenders helpless. Mali started more impressively, but the Liberian Lone Star gradually fought their way into the match and Frank Seator went close just before Weah broke the deadlock. It was a tense, lively opening match rather than a classic with neither team able to retain possession for long during the opening half in which Mali came closest after a slip by Liberian goalkeeper Louis Crayton. He failed to hold a shot from outside the penalty area and just beat Mamadou Bagayoko, another France-based Malian, to the loose ball at the Chinese-built March 26 Stadium. While never a bruising battle, Libyan referee Abdelkarim Shelmani showed four yellow cards - two to each team - and the rhythm of the first half was disrupted by niggling fouls. The result illustrated that home advantage is not often a major factor in the biennial African championship with South Africa the only hosts to win their opening match in the previous five tournaments. Group A action resumes on Monday when the Nigerian Super Eagles, one of the favourites for the gold medals in the 23-day event, tackle the Desert Warriors of Algeria. Ugandan assistant referee Ali Tomusange will officiate today. AFP

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