Mali came from behind twice at Stade du 26 Mars, with substitute Mamadou Camara heading in the winner six minutes from time as Rwanda lost for the first time in Group K.
Mali substitute Mamadou Camara headed in a corner six minutes from time to complete a comeback and beat Rwanda 3-2 at Stade du 26 Mars on Friday, ending the Amavubi’s perfect start to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Eagles had been behind twice, and for long spells Rwanda looked capable of taking something home from Bamako. Camara had other ideas. He rose to meet Daouda Guindo’s corner from the right and beat Rwanda’s defence to the ball. It was Mali’s third win from three games in Group K.
Rwanda coach Stephen Constantine had warned before kick-off that Mali would attack with everything in the opening 15 to 20 minutes. The hosts did, with wing play, possession and a succession of half chances, but they could not find a way through.
Rwanda did. In the 29th minute they broke on the counter and Jojea Kwizera beat Mali’s young goalkeeper to give the visitors a lead that went against the run of play. The home crowd fell silent.
Mali leveled just before the break. Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari parried a powerful free-kick, Amadou Haidara headed the ball back across the area, and Kamory Doumbia turned it in on 43 minutes.
Rwanda struck first again after the restart. Phanuel Kavita made it 2-1 in the 54th minute from Kwizera’s assist, even though Mali had twice hit the woodwork before the goal.
Mali needed nine minutes to reply. Moussa Kounfolo Yeo leveled on 63 minutes after good work from Lassine Sinayoko. The Swansea winger, 22, was making his first appearance for Mali after receiving his first call-up this month.
The visitors[Rwanda] did not give up. Elie Iradukunda went through on goal and was denied by the Mali goalkeeper, and a late Rwanda free-kick was also saved. But Mali kept coming, and Camara’s header settled it in the 84th minute.
Referee Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou of Congo-Brazzaville played three minutes of added time before blowing the final whistle.
Mali dominated the numbers, with 74% of the possession, 35 shots to Rwanda’s six and nine corners to two. Only nine of those shots were on target, though, against Rwanda’s five, and Rwanda made theirs count with two goals. The winner came from one of Mali’s corners, and Rwanda also committed more fouls, 14 to Mali’s 11.
Rwanda scored twice from five shots on target. Mali needed nine to find their three, with Doumbia, Yeo and Camara each getting a goal. Mali hit the woodwork twice before the break.
The result takes Mali to nine points, after wins over Cape Verde (3-1) and Liberia (1-0). Rwanda stay second on six points, having beaten Liberia and Cape Verde earlier in the campaign. Mauritius beat Liberia in the group’s other game.
Rwanda have little time to recover. The return fixture takes place at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Tuesday 17 November, where Tony Silver’s side will be looking to stay on top and Constantine’s men will be looking to fight back.
