In the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, Mali took the lead in Group E after beating South Africa 2-0 in a closely contested match.
After a missed penalty by South Africa’s Percy Tau, Mali captain Hamari Traore scored the first goal of the match after an hour, breaking the deadlock.
Lassine Sinayoko added a second six minutes later, putting the West Africans ahead of Namibia on goal difference in the standings.
The first goal of the match came after Traore reacted quickly and scored from centimeters out when South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams barely kept out a curling free-kick from Sekou Koita at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
Soon after, the second goal came when a through ball put Sinayoko goal-side and he shrugged off two defensive challenges to score from close range.
South Africa had a chance to go ahead in the match when they were awarded a penalty after 18 minutes.
A VAR check revealed an elbow in the face of striker Evidence Makgopa from Sikou Niakate as the ball was played into the Mali area and the defender attempted to block the tall forward from getting to it.
However, Tau squandered the chance by blasting the penalty well off target.
South Africa dominated the first-half exchanges and Tau forced a good save out of Djigui Diarra.
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However, they were almost caught out on the stroke of halftime with a defensive blunder that left Sinayoko through on goal, but his effort was blocked by Williams.
Mali had two excellent chances soon after the break, first for Koita, who blasted wildly over, and then for Amadou Haidara, who was guilty of a horror miss when he was clear on goal but hurried his effort.
The two goals from Traore and Sinayoko put Mali firmly in the driving seat of a group that was always expected to be closely contested.
Earlier, Namibia scored a late winner through winger Deon Hotto to upset Tunisia in the other Group E game in Korhogo.
Mali and Tunisia will next meet on Saturday, while South Africa will face neighbours Namibia on Sunday, both in Korhogo.
