Mali edge past Burkina Faso to seal quarter-final spot

Mali won 2-1 over Burkina Faso in an Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match at the Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly in Korhogo on Tuesday thanks to quick starts in both halves, including an own goal by Edmond Tapsoba and a strike by Lassine Sinayoko.

Mali scored within three minutes of the match's start when Tapsoba turned the ball into his own net, and they caught Burkinabe off guard again two minutes after the break when Sinayoko scored his third goal of the tournament.

Burkina Faso pulled a goal back just before the hour mark when Bertrand Traore converted a penalty, but they were unable to equalize against a Mali side with a well-deserved reputation for a stingy defense, which is one of the reasons they are among the tournament favourites.

Mali are looking for their first continental title and will face hosts Ivory Coast in a quarterfinal on Saturday in Bouake.

Mali are the team with the most games played at the Cup of Nations, 55, without having won a trophy, and Tuesday's matchup may be one more sign that they can do so this year.

They are a difficult side to break down because of their explosive forwards, and while the final score was not emphatic, they were comfortable winners.

Mali took the lead after three minutes when Amadou Haidara's powerful header rebounded off the post, and Burkina Faso defender Tapsoba tried to clear but only managed to steer the ball into his own net.

If Mali's start to the first half was quick, their start to the second period was even faster, as they doubled the lead within two minutes of the kickoff.

Hamari Traore played Sinayoko into acres of space on the right side of the box, and with time to pick his spot, he calmly slipped the ball under goalkeeper Herve Koffi.

Burkina Faso had a chance to cut the deficit in half when the ball struck Mali defender Kiki Kouyate's outstretched arm, and Libyan referee Ibrahim Mutaz awarded the penalty after a video assistant referee review. Traore made no mistake from 12-yards.

They pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and Issoufou Dayo found the back of the net, but he was well offside, and they were unable to create much in the final minutes.

SportsLigue