Mali coach cries foul over disallowed goal

Mali coach Henryk Kasperczak has praised his side for their 1-1 draw against Cameroon during the 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cup Group D opener in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday night.

However, the Poland-born mentor said he does not understand why the referee disallowed his side a second goal.

The Eagles scored first courtesy of a strike by Sambou Yatabare and the Indomitable Lions equalised through Ambroise Oyongo.

Mali finished third in the last two Afcon tournaments and thought they had grabbed a last-minute winner when Yatabare headed in a rebound following Seydou Keita's free kick, but the goal was ruled out after the match official adjudged him to have been off-side.

"The second goal disallowed is a pity, we don't know what was the reason," said Kasperczak after the match.

"It was a full game with intensity and a good rhythm. Mali showed a lot of focus with a good organisation.

"But Mali displayed a quality football. And we also faced a good Cameroon side. It was a good encounter."

Kasperzcak’s charges will face Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday night as they continue to search for three points to maximise of survival in what is seen as a group of death.