FT: DR Congo 1 Mali 1

And there it is. The referee brings an end to proceedings. Heartbreak for the Congolese, as Mali qualifies for the quarter-final tie against South Africa on Saturday. Ghana the other team to progress to the next round after their 3-0 win over Niger.

Mali just looking to see out the match now. Congo throwing everything at goal as we approach the final whistle.

Keita gets free in the box and gets his shot away, but the's denied by Kidiaba's right foot.

Four minutes will be added on. Still plenty of time for some late drama.

Mbokani flicks the ball on into the box, but to his dismay it's straight into the keeper's grasp.

Change for Mali. Sigamary Diakite comes on for Samba Diakite.

Diba Ilunga gets a deserved rest. Mulota Kabangu is the man to replace him.

Mohamed Traore gets a booking for a hard challenge on Cedric Makiadi.

Diabate again. The big man goes round the keeper, but his shot from the tight angle strikes the post and rolls out for a goal-kick.

Diabate almost gets the header there, but Zakuani is equal to the cross and puts it out for the corner.

Dioko Kaluyituka get replaced by Deo Kanda.

Cheick Diabate comes on for the goalscorer Mahamadou Samassa.

Makiadi gets a yellow for a cynical tackle on Traore.

Mbokani plays a brilliant ball to Diba Ilunga there, but before completing the one-two the big number goes down a bit too easily there.

There's the substitution now. Traore on for Sissoko.

Mali playing with 10 men for the moment, while Kalilou Traore is getting ready to replace Sissoko.

Sissoko goes down after a shot on goal, strecher being brought on to take him off the field, doesn't look like he'll return to the match.

Congo with a chance now. Mulumbu curls is shot towards the bottom corner, but Samassa just does enough to push it wide.

Samassa almost gets his second of the night there. His shot forces a fumble out of Kidiaba, who watches the ball roll agonisingly wide of the post.

Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa get a caution for time wasting, the referee having none of that.

Diba Ilunga carries the ball forward well and forces a corner out of the Mali defence. Mbokani's header from the resulting corner goes well over.

Claude Le Roy just gets a word from the ref after gesturing to his watch.

Mali with good pressure on the Congo defence and goalkeeper as they force a throw out of Issama.

Good run from Issama down the right, but his square ball only finds the defender.

Tamboura gets a caution for a professional foul.

Ilunga takes a shot from distance, but it goes well wide.

Mali look like the stronger team at the start here, but they're not creating th clear chances they would like

Another goal for Ghana now, John Boye this time. The Black Stars will surely finish as group winners now.

Both teams looking to get forward at the start of the second period, but both defences are standing firm at the moment.

And we're back underway at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The injured Tresor Mputu coming on for Lomana LuaLua

Referee brings an end to an exciting first half. The midfield battle proving to be the crucial one, but neither side coming out as a clear winner just yet.

Mbokani gets a freekick as Keita tries too hard to win back the ball.

Into stoppage time now, Mali's corner only gets half-cleared, before the ball back in being put out for yet another corner.

Maiga puts his shot over the bar, after good work by Keita down the left-hand side.

Mbokani receives an arm to the face as Sissoko challenges for the header.

Mali trying to keep the ball now, sticking to the simple passes in the midfield

Some heavy challenges flying in the midfield, both teams battling hard to get any kind of advantage. Congo back in the ascendancy now.

Congo with a freekick just outside the box after Sissoke brought down Diba Ilunga.

Samba Sow picks up his caution after fouling one too many times.

Keita gets booked for protesting to the referee after bringing down Mulumbu in the middle of the park.

Mali starting to impose themselves on the match. They are just edging the possession now for the first time in the match.

Congo with another penalty shout, as LuaLua falls over in the box, but the referee sees nothing in it.

Congo with a good passing move to get to the box, but the floated cross is cleared by the Mali defence.

Meanwhile, another goal in Port Elizabeth. Ghana scoring the second through Atsu.

Keita swings it into the box, but Issama puts it out for a corner.

Mali get a freekick in a promising area, as Diawarra is brought down on the far side.

Mulumbu picks up the first booking in the match for wrapping his arms around Seydou Keita.

As it stands now Mali are in the driving seat for the runner-up position in Group B.

GOAL! Mali equalise, good work in the box by Tamboura to give Mamadou Samassa an easy tap in.

As it stands Ghana and Congo will progress to the quarter-finals, but we still have 80-odd minutes left to play, so nothing decided just yet.

Feel free to email your thoughts or predictions to Chris.Vermeulen@Teamtalkmedia.com and we'll publish as many of them during the game as possible.

Early drama in both matches, just got word that Ghana have scored in the other match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Sissoko again involved. This time getting his shot away, but straight at Kidiaba.

And puts it in the top corner, gave the keeper no chance.

Mbokani steps up to take the spot-kick...

LuaLua hits the post after 20 seconds, and have a penalty awarded after Sissoko brought down Ilunga.

Referee gets us underway...

Mali XI: Mahamadou Samassa, Diawara, Tamboura, Coulibaly, Wague, Sissoko, Diakite, Sow, Keita, Maiga, Mamadou Samassa

DR Congo XI: Kidiaba, Issama, Zakuani, Mongongu, Kasusula, Kaluyituka, Makiadi, Mulumbu, Lomana LuaLua, Illunga, Mbokani.

Some team news ahead for you ahead of the match...

Mali are overwhelming favourites to beat Congo at 23/20 according to our friends at Sky Bet, while it is 9/4 for the match to end in a draw. Dieumerci Mbokani is 7/1 to score first, while Cheick Diabate is at 9/2.

A Mali win would see them qualify to the quarter-finals of the competition as either group winners or runners-up, depending on whether Ghana win their match. A draw would also see them progress, regardless of a Niger, as Mali beat the Menas in the opening match.

DR Congo are in a must-win situation coming into the match. Anything less than a win would see the Menas eliminated from the competition, while a win could see them progress as group winners, provided thatt Ghana fail to win against Niger.

Good afternoon, I'm Chris Vermeulen and I'll be taking you through today's action as DR Congo take on Mali in the final round of group B matches of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Kick-off at the Moses Mabhida Stadium is scheduled for 19:00 (17:00 GMT).


Saturday, 17 January 2015
Equatorial Guinea v Congo  
Burkina v Gabon  
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Burkina v Equatorial Guinea  
Congo v Gabon  
Sunday, 25 January 2015
Burkina v Congo  
Equatorial Guinea v Gabon  

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