Guinea, Mali to draw lots to decide AFCON quarter-finalist

Guinea and Mali will have to wait until lots are drawn to decide who will advance to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations because of tonight's 1-1 draw in Mongomo.

Five of the six Group D games finished as 1-1 draws, meaning that nothing separates Guinea and Mali in second and third place. Ivory Coast go through as group winners following their 1-0 win over Cameroon.

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Mali were quickest out of the blocks in Mongomo this evening, with Abdoulay Diaby firing a couple of efforts inside the opening five minutes wide.

Mali felt that they should have been awarded a penalty in the 12th minute when Fode Camara bundled over Mustapha Yatabare, but Guinea escaped both the spot kick and a red card for Camara.

It got even worse for Mali minutes later when a penalty was awarded against them following Salif Coulibaly's handball, and Kevin Constant cheekily dinked home from 12 yards to give Guinea the lead against the run of play.

Incredibly, Mali were then awarded a penalty of their own two minutes later after Issiaga Sylla's handball, but Seydou Keita couldn't match Constant as his weak effort was saved by Naby-Moussa Yattara.

After that end-to-end spell in the game, chances were limited for the rest of the first half, with Modibo Maiga denied a Mali equaliser by Yattara's fingertip save.

The West Ham United man would pull the Eagles level shortly after half time, though, by heading home Diaby's cross from close range.

At 1-1, the two sides knew that a winner would send them through, but neither really threatened in the rest of the second half with so much at stake.

They will now have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to find out who will be joining Ivory Coast as the last quarter-finalist. Group C winners Ghana await the lucky team who are drawn as group runners-up.