Amidst myriads of controversies that engulfed the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 Group F encounter, the Eagles of Mali managed to triumph over the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia with a narrow 1-0 win in their group opener.
Mali beat Tunisia 1-0 in Limbé in a Group F game which ended in controversy after the referee, Janny Sikazwe of Zambia blew for full-time few minutes before time.
The beautiful game was marred by last minute drama following the blip from the Zambian referee, causing the Carthage Eagles coach Mondher Kebaier and his technical staff to ran on to the field to confront referee Sikazwe after he ended the game a minute earlier.
Mali dropped first blood through Ibrahima Kone, after he converted a spot kick just two minutes into the second half after Ellyes Joris Skhiri was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area. At the 77th minute of the game, Tunisa won for themselves a penalty which could have fetched them leveler, but captain Wahbi Khazri saw his effort saved by Mali keeper Ibrahim Mounkoro.
The 1972 finalists Mali were reduced to 10 men at the latter stages of the game stages after substitute El Bilal Toure was sent off for a heavy challenge on Skhiri. Referee Sikazwe more time on two occasions for checking the VAR screen for confirmation of incidents that led to Tunisia’s penalty, and Toure’s challenge which resulted in his dismissal from the game.
Referee Sikazwe has become the centre of attention after he appeared to have blown his whistle for full-time with five minutes remaining, before checking his timings and continuing the game.
The Zambian signaled the end of the match in the 90th minute – without adding on any additional time for stoppages.
Tunisia coach Kebaier and his staff angrily confronted Sikazwe and his assistants on the pitch, pointing to their watches and remonstrating about the lack of added time.
The officials were given an escort off the pitch by stadium security as the Malians celebrated in front of their fans, but the controversy did not end there.
Mali’s victory makes them climb to the top of the group before their second match against Gambia on 16 January. The Scorpions will play Mauritania in the second match of Group F on Wednesday, January 12.
