In a game that seemed to have no clear winner, Mali turned the tide and defeated South Africa 2-0 at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, allowing "The Eagles" to temporarily claim the top spot in Group E due to goal difference.

The first half was back and forth, with both teams having chances that didn't pose any real threat. It also appeared that the game would end in a 0-0 draw, with both teams earning a share of the points.

However, in the 60th minute of the second half, a free-kick for Mali near the South African area changed the game's complexion. After a rebound from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Real Sociedad captain and player Hamari Traoré emerged in the box to push the ball in, scoring the first goal of the match and making it 1-0 for Mali.

A few minutes later, thanks to a great team play by Mali, 24-year-old player Lassine Sinayoko appeared to extend Mali's lead, sealing the final score at 2-0 in the 66th minute.

With this result, Mali takes the lead in Group E with three points, but with a better goal difference than Namibia, who also won their match against Tunisia, albeit by just one goal. On the other hand, South Africa drops to the bottom of Group E, having conceded the most goals in the first round of AFCON 2023.

Mali's next match is on January 20 when they face Tunisia; on the other hand, South Africa will face Namibia next Sunday, January 21. Both matches will take place at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.