African Nations Championships

Result: Mali 1-2 Zimbabwe

Date: 25 January 2014

Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Zimbabwe reached the semifinals of the African Nations Championships for the first time, after they beat Mali 2-1 at the Cape Town Stadium.

Ibrouhuma Sidibe tried his luck from range in the second minute but the midfielder fired his effort straight at George Chigova.

Zimbabwe went ahead in the 10th minute after Simba Sithole pounced on a long ball, before firing into the bottom corner.

Peter Moyo nearly doubled Zimbabwe's advantage in the 24th minute with a shot from range, which Soumaila Diakite palmed away for a corner.

Abdoulaye Sissoko tested George Chigova from distance in the 28th minute but Chigova dealt with it acrobatically.

Cheikh Doumbia tried his luck from distance in the 43rd minute but the midfielder blasted his effort wide of the target.

Moyo squandered a chance to increase his side's lead in the 53rd minute, the midfielder shot high and wide after some good work Kuda Mahachi.

Zimbabwe doubled their lead in the 55th through Kuda Mahachi, the 20-year-old went on a fine run before smashing his effort past Diakite.

Sissoko had another opportunity to pull a goal back in the 67th minute, but the striker pulled his wide from the edge of the area.

Hamidou Sinayoko could have brought Mali level in the 74th minute but the midfielder failed to get good contact on the ball and saw his effort go well wide of the post.

Ousmane Kieta missed a chance to reduce the defect in the 79th minute, but the defender failed to direct his header on target.

Moyo went for the spectacular in the 81st minute but the the midfielder could not keep his shot down.

Diakite was called into action the 83rd minute, this time to brilliantly deny Masimba Mambare.

Mahamadou sidibe came close in the 84th minute but the substitute shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Mali got a goal back in the 88th minute through Hamidou Sinayoko's header from close range.

Here's how they lined up:

Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Eric Chipeta, Partson Jaure, Milton Ncube, Masimba Mambare, Peter Moyo, Danny Phiri, Kuda Mahachi, simba Sithole, Charles Sibanda

Mali:  Soumaila Diakite, Souleymane Konate, Ousmane Keita, Oumar Kone, Ibourahima Sidibe, Yaya Samake, Hamidou Sinayoko, Adama Traore, Cheikh Doumbia, Abdoulaye Sissoko, Issaka Samake