AFBGQ2021: Kenya bow out after loss to Mali

Kenya bid farewell to their dream of featuring in the men's 2022 Deaflympics Games following a 4-2 loss at the hands of Mali in the qualifiers held at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday 15 September.

The hosts suffered a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in their opening game leaving them needing nothing short of a win in the clash against Mali to have hopes of progressing out of Group A.

Kenya suffered a nightmare start in the game as they went behind inside the opening seconds when Seydou Cilssouma pickpocketed the ball in the midfield to thread a neat through ball to Mamodou Coulibaly who fired the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

The hosts settled well into the game after going behind so early in the game but were let down by a number of offside calls when they had a clear sight on goal to possibly level proceedings.

Mali however doubled their lead in the 37th minute when Mamodou Traore whipped in a devilish corner that was headed in by Moussa Keita after goalkeeper Thor Mwai rushed off his line to palm the ball away to safety but missed.

Kenya were handed a route back into the game seven minutes after the resumption of the second half when Yahya Kounda brought down Joseph Munyua inside the box with the referee pointing to the spot.

Yahya Bashir stepped up to take the penalty and held his nerve to convert from 12 yards and half Mali’s lead, adding to his tally after scoring against Senegal in the last clash.

Bashir proved to be a handful for the Mali defence as he won Kenya the second penalty when he was brought down while trying to make foray inside the box from the right flank.

He was once again trusted with the spot and made no mistake as he nonchalantly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. 

Mali however regained their lead in the 73rd minute when Seydou Cilssouma bagged his own goal after providing the opener as his curling low effort put the West African nation ahead.

Mamodou Coulibaly claimed his brace to put the game beyond Kenya two minutes later as he placed the ball into the bottom left corner from just the edge of the penalty area with the host’s defence left in sixes and sevens.