Substitute Max Gradel saved Côte d'Ivoire blushes again with a late equaliser as Herve Renard's side rescued a late point in a 1-1 draw with Mali in an African Nations Cup Group D clash in Malabo on Saturday.

Mali had been looking good for all three points after Bakary Sako scored a brilliant opener early in the game, but for the second match running let a lead slip late on having last time been pegged back by Cameroon.

But Gradel fired in a low drive past substitute goalkeeper Germain Berthe to send the Ivorian bench wild.

They will likely still have to beat Cameroon in their final Group D match on Wednesday, but the result means they do not have to rely on the result in the other game between Mali and Guinea.

The game got off to an electric start with Sako blasting home a superb volley having been teed up by Sambou Yatabaré after just seven minutes.

It was the perfect start for Mali to settle their nerves against their heavyweight opposition, who put them under pressure in the remainder of the opening period.

Ivorian fullback Serge Aurier squandered a good headed chance, while Seydou Doumbia failed to get a solid connection with the goal gaping.

Renard thought his side should have got a penalty mid-way through the first half when Bony was sent tumbling to the ground, but nothing was given, much to the frustration of the side.

And soon afterwards Kolo Toure saw his header pushed onto the crossbar by Mali keeper Soumaila Diakite, though the referee had blown for an earlier infringement.

Bony had another headed chance early in the second period which he put inches wide as Ivory Coast continued to pile on the pressure.

Diakite was replaced with 20 minutes to go with a thigh injury and replaced by the inexperienced Berthe, a psychological lift for the Ivorians.

The goal they craved finally came four minutes from time as Gradel took the pass from Aurier and surged into the box before firing low past Berthe, who looked slow to get down to his right.