LEAD: Mali beat co-hosts Gabon on penalties to advance to semi-finals

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 5, 2012, 20:26 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Barcelona's Seydou Keita scored Mali's final spot-kick to take his side through to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday in a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory against Gabon.

The co-hosts Gabon seemed to be on course for their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations semi-final after OGC Nice forward Eric Mouloungui gave them the lead shortly after the restart, but second half substitute Cheick Diabate scored a late equalizer for Mali to make the final score 1-1.

In the penalty shoot-out it was Mali goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite who became his side's hero as he saved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty, leaving the striker distraught at the end. He was sobbing uncontrollably and had to be helped off the field by his father Pierre, who played for Gabon at the 1994 and 1996 finals.

Mali will now take on Ivory Coast in Wednesday's semi-final in Libreville after the Elephants beat co-hosts Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in Malabo on Saturday.

Mali coach Alain Giresse, who coached Gabon at the last Nations Cup finals in Angola, dismissed speculation that he regarded the victory against his former team as revenge.

'Those who know me will know that I am not like that. I do not need revenge.

'Our team prepared well and we were rewarded for our efforts. I am happy that we have qualified for the semi-finals. Now everything is possible,' he said.

His Gabon counterpart Gernot Rohr said that he did not believe his players had struggled to cope with the pressure. 'We had pressure in all the games.

'This game today was very difficult because Mali is a big team. When I saw Cheick Diabate come in, I told the players that he is very good player, I coached him in AC Ajaccio.

'But I am very proud of my players as they give all until the end,' the Franco-German said.

A minute's silence was observed ahead of the kick-off in honour of those who died during the riots at an Egyptian league game on Wednesday.

The home side, who were looking for their first-ever place in the semi-finals, dominated play in the first half and should have taken the lead on the half hour when Aubameyang found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat, only to see his shot hit the upright.

Much to the delight of the near-capacity crowd in the 40,000-seater Stade de l'Amitie, Gabon took the lead in the 55th minute when Aubameyang laid the ball back to Mouloungui and his shot from close range took a deflection to beat Diakite.

Gabon captain Daniel Cousin nearly doubled the lead shortly afterwards, but was denied by the post.

Modibo Maïga came agonizingly close to equalizing the score in the 70th minute after a defensive blunder saw the forward bearing down on the Gabon goal, but Maiga's lame shot was easily saved by Didier Ovono.

Gabon were made to rue their missed chances as substitute Diabate managed to turn in the box with just six minutes to play and was then lucky to see his shot go through Ovono's legs before trickling over the line.

In extra-time Mali seemed to have more energy and pushed forward, without however creating any real chances, thus forcing the game into a penalty shoot-out.

Sunday's other quarter-final in Franceville sees Ghana take on Tunisia, with the winner taking on Zambia - who beat Sudan 3-0 in the quarter-final on Saturday - in Wednesday's semi-final in Bata.