A Diplomatic Seydou Keita's Malians Sends Bafana Bafana Home

A stunned South African team react to a disastrous penalty kicks after Malians shootout victory at the Moses Mabhida Sports Stadium in Durban, South Africa on Saturday February 2, 2013. Image: Steve Haag/Getty

The influential Malian Diplomat Seydou Keita's squad sends Thuso Phala's Bafana Bafana hunters home on a 3-1 penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw at the Moses Mabhida Sports Stadium last night (South African Time) clinching their spot for the semi-finals.

With a lone goal lead at 31 minutes of play in the first half of South Africa's Tokelo Rantie's goal from close range for the Bafana Bafana hunters, Diplomat and charismatic Chinese Super League Dalian Aerbin F.C.'s Seydou Keita found opening in the 58 minute with a header to the net from Mahamadou Samassa's crossed assist to tie the game 1-1 into extra time and penalty shootouts after extra time produced no goals on both sides.

Malian goalkeeper saved two penalty kicks by Dean Furman and May Mahlangu, while Leylokonolo Majoro's kick just went wide. South Africa's lone goal from the penalty box was by Kaiser Chiefs' Lawrence Siphiwe Tsabalala.

Malians Chieck Tidiane Diabate (Bordeax, France), Adama Tamboura (Randers, Denmark), and Mahamane El Hadji Traore (OGC, Nice-France) scored for their country to clear the hurdle for a Nigeria or Ivory Coast clash in the semi-finals.