Haidara’s Malian “Aigles” soar over South Africa to open AFCON with win

RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara and the Mali nationwide soccer staff kicked off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations marketing campaign with a 2-0 over South Africa on Tuesday night.

Darkish horse candidates for the 2023 AFCON title have gotten their event off to a successful begin with a 2-0 win over South Africa on the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on Tuesday night. RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara – one in all two Bundesliga professionals representing “Les Aigles” – put in an 87-minute-shift. Haidara’s nationwide staff colleague Diade Samassekou of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim was not included in Erik Chelle’s match-day squad.

The West Africans obtained off to an error-prone begin and had been fortunate to not concede in opposition to Hugo Broos’ “Bafana, Bafana” early. Haidara himself practically gifted the South Africans a purpose with an early failed clearance. The Malians did concede an early penalty, however Percy Tau smashed a Nineteenth-minute spot kick over the bar. Tau spurned one other alternative earlier than the primary half was out. The match thus went into the tunnel with a, from Mali’s perspective, a flattering 0-0 scoreline.

The favored “Eagles” performed significantly better within the second half. The various touring Malian supporters within the stand got a lot to cheer about when their staff obtained off to a livid begin. Sadly, Haidara was unable to open the scoring himself. The RB-system academy man flashed over within the forty ninth. Two objectives in fast succession nonetheless sealed the victory. Captain Hamari Traoré netted the 1-0 within the sixtieth. Striker Lassine Sinayoko added the second six minutes later.

Haidara completed the match with three efforts heading in the right direction. Regardless of his mishaps on each side of the ball, the 25-year-old concerned himself strongly in most assault expenses and accomplished 85 p.c of his 33 performed passes. Haidara cut up the distinction on his eight direct floor duels, successful one in all his three contests within the air. He obtained an admire spherical of applause from the group when being subbed off for Wolverhampton midfielder Boubacar Traoré within the 87th.

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