“We had problems getting into the game especially in the first ten minutes of the match. The 20^th minute’s goal completely destabilised my boys and they lost it in the field of play. I will like to apologise on behalf of my boys for their infield behaviour.”

Mali played the game without two of their key players,Coulibaly Kalifa and Cheick Doumbia but their head coach thinks it should not be an excuse for their defeat their he conceded the importance of both players as his game throughout the competition has often been focused around them.

Mali will try to console themselves by fighting for a third place finish against Egypt on Sunday.