Libreville — The dream ended for co-hosts Gabon who were tumbled out in the lottery of penalties at the African Nations Cup after losing 4-5 on post-match kicks to Mali in their quarter-final tie in Libreville on Sunday.
Mali had been lucky to force the game into extra time but made good use of their fortune to turn around the result and book a semi-final place with Cote d'Ivoire.
Seydou Keita scored their winning kick after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time.
Silence had fallen on the home crowd in Libreville after Gabon's most influential player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, contrived to have his kick saved, effectively handing the result to the Maliens.
Mali had the upper hand for the first 15 minutes of the game, but a lengthy break for an injury to Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono seemed to strip them of their momentum and hand the initiative to Gabon.
Both Aubameyang and Daniel Cousin put Mali under real pressure, with the first chance for the hosts falling after 17 minutes when Cousin got on the end of Eric Moulongui's cross but just shaved the ball with his head when he might have left it for the lurking Aubameyang.
Then came three good chances in a spell of three minutes. In the 31st minute, Cousin played a smart through ball to the speedy Aubameyang, who beat the offside trap and lobbed the Mali goalkeeper Soumailia Diakite, only to hit the post.
Aubameyang then went and missed as he hit a turning shot over the crossbar. Less than 60 seconds later both he and Cousin broke but the veteran striker's pass left Aubameyang with too much to do from a tight angle.
A push by Ousmane Berthe on Cousin five minutes before half-time set Gabon up with a free kick chance from the 22 metres, but Mouloungui fired his shot into Mali's defensive wall.
He was to find the target 10 minutes into the second half as poor defence from Mali allowed Aubameyang to drag the ball back from the byline and for Mouloungui to crack it home from just on the penalty spot.
It was as much as Gabon deserved and they might have sealed the game four minutes later when Cousin hit his shot against the upright and it bounced back into the hands of Diakite.
Mali then brought on Mustapha Yatabare and Cheick Tidiane Diabate to increase their attacking option in search of an equaliser.
Modibo Maiga forced two good saves out of Didier Ovono in the Mali goal before Mali grabbed an undeserved tying goal, with just six minutes left, through the lanky frame of Diabate, who squeezed a shot under the body of Ovono after a good turn almost right in front of goal. It was a storming run by Adama Tamboura on the right that set it up and a neat header back to Diabate from Maiga.
