Soccer-Mali qualify for Nigeria '99

Accra (Greater Accra), 4 March '99 -

Pre-tournament favourites, Mali trounced Guinea 4-1 in their Africa Under-20 youth soccer tournament play-off at the Accra sports stadium in Accra yesterday. By the victory, Mali have qualified for the World FIFA/Coca Cola Under-20 soccer tournament in Nigeria next month along with Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia and hosts Nigeria as Africa's representatives. After a scoreless first half in which both teams failed to utilise the few chances they created, the Malians lifted their game in the second session and hit the back of the net four times before the Guineans could pull one back. Inside left Coulibaly Amadou converted a spot kick in the 58th minute after Guinean defender Bangoura Ibrahima had handled the ball in the penalty area for the opener. A minute later, substitute Dissa Mahamadou, who came on for defender Lassana Coulibaly in the 35th minute, connected a rebound when Guinean goalkeeper Conde Abdoulaye failed to make a first-time save of left full back Mamadou Bacayoko's shot. The Malians, who maintained the pressure on the porous Guinean defence, increased the tally in the 70th and 78th minutes through Camara Abdoulaye and Dissa respectively. But just at the stroke of full time, substitute Youla Souleymane, who came on for Camara Mohamed Pispa, pulled one back for Guinea in a goal-mouth action. Line-up : Mali - Boubacar Keita, Lassana Coulibaly/Mahamadou Dissa, Mamadou Bacayoko, Adama Coulibaly, Tounkara Bakou, Tenema Ndiaye/Baba Cisse, Mahamadou Diarra, Seydou Keita, Amadou Coulibaly, Abdoulaye Camara and Mamadou Diarra/Youssouf Coulibaly. Guinea - Soumah Djibril, Sory Conte, Almamy Bangoura , Mamady Kaba, Facinet Camara/Ibrahima Bangoura, Mohamed Sankhon, Mohamed Camara, Pascal Feindouno/Kaba Lounseny, Souleymane Youla, Ousmane Bangoura and Fode Tour.

Scorers : Mali - Amadou Coulibaly (58) Mahamadou Dissa (59, 78) Abdoulaye Camara (70)

Guinea - Souleymane Youla (90)