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Experienced Zambian official Janny Sikazwe, who took charge of
the 2017 Cup of Nations final, initially blew for the final
whistle on 85 minutes as he got his timekeeping all wrong in
Limbe.
But after then playing on, he repeated the error when he blew
for fulltime, again before the clock had ticked over to the 90
minutes.
Tunisia were furious and officials stormed on to the pitch in
protest, but the man of the match trophy was handed out and the
post-match news conferences in full swing before Confederation
of African Football (CAF) officials decided four additional
minutes should be played.
Mali came out onto the pitch again 40 minutes after the
controversy began, but Tunisia refused to play on and Sikazwe
ended the game for a third time.
"The players were taking ice baths for 35 minutes before they
were called back out again," Tunisia coach Mondher Kebaier told
reporters.
"I’ve been coaching for a long time never seen anything like
it."
The match was also a tale of two penalties as Mali forward
Ibrahima Kone converted his attempt, but Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri
could not follow suit as his effort was saved by goalkeeper
Ibrahima Mounkoro 13 minutes from time.
Sikazwe sent off Mali striker El Bilal Toure when he was
fractionally late making a challenge in what looked a harsh
decision.
Debutants Gambia joined Mali at the top of Group F after they
won their first game at the finals, edging Mauritania 1-0.
The second match of the double header in Limbe started 45
minutes late because of the earlier farce but the delay did not
hinder Gambia, who went ahead after 10 minutes when Ablie Jallow
scored from the edge of the penalty area.
Gambia could have won by more goals but were denied by sharp
goalkeeping from Babacar Diop.
Also on Wednesday, Ivory Coast beat Equatorial Guinea as
expected in Douala, but by only a lone goal.
Captain Max-Alain Gradel scored in the sixth minute, increasing
the count of quality long-range strikes into the net at the
tournament.
On Thursday, hosts Cameroon can move into the last 16 if they
beat Ethiopia in Yaounde, followed by Burkina Faso against the
Cape Verde Islands at the Olembe Stadium.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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