APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South Africa’s Bafana Bafana opened its 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign on a disappointing note following a 2-0 loss to Mali on Tuesday night.
Spain-based Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko of French Ligue 2 club Auxerre struck in the second half to secure victory for Mali in their AFCON opener. Traore plays for La Liga side Real Sociedad.
South Africa had earlier missed the chance to take the lead in the first half when Percy Tau of Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly sent a penalty over the bar in the 19th minute.
The result at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo means Mali tops Group E ahead of Namibia, who earlier stunned Tunisia with a 1-0 victory for their first ever AFCON victory.
Bafana Bafana find themselves bottom of the log standings and would have to beat Namibia in their next Group E match on Sunday to avoid an early exit.
JN/APA