Zimbabwe beat Mali 2-1 to reach CHAN semi-finals

Zimbabwe beat Mali 2-1 to reach the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship in their match at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night. 

Simba Sithole and Kudakwashe Mahachi scored for Zimbabwe while Hamidou Sinayoko pulled a goal back for Mali late in the game.

In the 10th minute Zimbabwe took the lead through Sithole when a long ball played from the back found the striker, who finished it off from inside the box with a shot to make the score 1-0.

Peter Moyo came close to adding a second goal for Zimbabwe in the 20th minute when he fired a long-range shot forcing the best out of goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite.

On the half hour, Ali Sadiki saw his tame shot from a Simba Mambare corner easily saved by Diakite and he had another chance from a free-kick in the 37th minute which was well saved by the Mali goalkeeper.

Sithole then misses a sitter, when it looked easier to score, in the 41st minute blasting the ball high and over the bar from point-blank range.

The sides went into the half-time break with Zimbabwe leading 1-0.

In the 56th minute midfielder Mahachi scored Zimbabwe’s second goal when he got past four Malian defenders before rounding Diakite to run with the ball into the Mali goal, 2-0.

Mali had chances to score when Sissoko got past Zimbabwe’s’ defence in the 66th minute but blasted his effort wide and ten minutes later Hamidou Sinayoko also hammered his shot wide.

Mali’s consolation goal came in the 88th minute when Sinayoko headed in Sissoko’s cross to make the score 2-1.

Zimbabwe head to Wednesdays semi-finals where they await the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final meeting between Libya and Gabon. KickOff.com

Mali: S.Diakite,S.Konate, I.Sidibe, O.Keita, A.Sissoko, C.Doumbia,L. Diarra (H.Sinayoko), A.Traore(I.Traore), I.Samake, Y Samake (M.Sidebe), O.Kone

Zimbabwe: G.Chigova, E. Chipeta, D.Phiri, H.Zvirekwi, K Mahachi, P.Moyo (F.Chindungwe), A.Sadiki (T.Muparati), M.Mambare, P. Jaure, S.sithole (N.Maziwisa), M.Ncube