By 
Mali revived their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a tense 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in a dramatic Group D match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday night.
Oumou Kone gave Mali the lead in the first half before Eve Pereira equalised for Cape Verde, who were looking for their first points at the tournament.
CAF reports that Fatoumata Niakate restored Mali’s advantage early in the second half, before Fatoumata Diarra scored what proved to be the decisive third goal in the 79th minute.
Cape Verde refused to give up and pulled one back through Alivia Kelly in the 88th minute, but Mali held on to claim three vital points.
The result moves Mali level with Ghana on three points after Cameroon had earlier beaten the Black Queens 1-0 to move top of Group D with six points.
Cape Verde remain bottom without a point, but their performance showed character in a match they pushed until the final whistle.
Both teams entered the match under pressure after opening defeats.
Mali had lost 2-1 to Cameroon, while Cape Verde began their first ever TotalEnergies WAFCON campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Ghana.
That made the meeting a do-or-die fixture for both sides, especially after the two teams had already met in qualification for this edition.
Cape Verde had beaten Mali 4-3 on aggregate in qualifying to reach their first continental finals, but Mali arrived in Morocco through the expanded tournament format.
This time, Mali found the first breakthrough.
In the 29th minute, Aissata Traore created the opening for Kone, who finished to put the Lady Eagles 1-0 ahead.
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Cape Verde had gone five matches without scoring before this fixture, but they ended that run in the 36th minute.
Pereira found the net to make it 1-1 and give the debutants renewed belief.
The goal was significant for Cape Verde, not only because it brought them level, but because it was their first goal at the TotalEnergies WAFCON finals.
The victory keeps Mali’s quarter-final hopes alive after a difficult start to the tournament.
Cameroon lead Group D with six points, while Ghana and Mali both have three points. Cape Verde remain on zero points after two matches.
For Mali, the win was essential. It prevents them from falling out of contention and gives them momentum before their final group match.
For Cape Verde, the defeat is painful, but there were positives in the way they scored twice and pushed Mali to the end.
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