An 82nd minute goal from Moussa Sissoko saw Mali beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a 2016 African Nations Championship, Group D match at the Stade Umuganda in Gisenyi, Rwanda.

Consequently the loss for Zimbabwe sees the brave Warriors crashing out of the tournament and unable to qualify for the quarterfinals.

The win for Mali at the Stade Umuganda in Gisenyi, Rwanda see them up to four points in Group D from two matches while Zimbabwe are firmly rooted to the bottom of the standings with zero points.

Mali started the better of the two teams and saw more of the ball, but their touches in the final third were poor which resulted in no clear cut chances on goal.

Zimbabwe, though, slowly found their footing in the game and had the first real chance on goal in the 17th minute when Farai Edwin Madhanaga fired inches wide from a 24-yard free-kick.

Ten minutes later Mali fashioned their first opening when Sekou Koita cut in from the right flank, but shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Just before the half hour Zimbabwe came bitterly close to break the deadlock when Roderick Mutuma met a right wing cross with a strong header, but he saw his effort come off the left-hand post.

In the 40th minute Ronald Chitiyo should have given Zimbabwe the lead when he found himself in space 14-yards out from goal, but under no pressure he fluffed his shot straight into the arms of the Malian keeper.

The half ended 0-0.

It was a fast start to the second half by Zimbabwe as Matuma played Tatenda Marshal Mudehwe through on goal with a clever back-heel two minutes in, but he shot inches over the target from 16-yards out.

In the 55th Mamadou Coulibaly came close for Mali when he headed a corner-kick just over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later Zimbabwean substitute William Manondo drove down the left flank and beat two defenders on his way into the box, but his 16-yard shot from an acute angle was well beaten away by the Malian keeper.

We finally saw the game’s opening goal in the 82nd minute when a left-sided free-kick was worked into the box by Lassana Samake and volleyed home from a couple of yards out by Moussa Sissoko to hand Mali a 1-0 lead.

Zimbabwe tried to find their way back into the match, but were unable to do so as they lost 1-0. As a result they stand no chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Zimbabwe (0) 0
Mali (0) 1 (Sissoko 82’)

Teams

Zimbabwe: Mkuruva, Mushure, Mhlangu, Zvirekwi , Mutuwa (Zekumbawira 73’), Madhanaga, Chitiyo (Mutizwa 85’), Mukatuka, Masuku, Mudehwe, Chirambadare (Manondo 63’).

Mali: Diarra, Traore (Kouame 62’), Marius, Sekou, Bissouma (Dieng 59’), Sinayoko, Coulibaly, Samake, Sissoko, Dante, Koita.

Florence Ndung'u