The host nation were knocked out after failing to convert 3 of their penalties in the shootout after the game ended one all after extra time. The main protagonists for this game were the six midfielders at the centre of the pitch namely; Sissoko, Keita and Sow for Mali and Furman, Mahlangu and Letsholonyane for South Africa.  South Africa went with a 4-2-3-1 formation and Mali a 4-3-3 formation with Sissoko the pivot.
​

0 -54th minute:
 

The host started the brighter of the two teams, dominating possession in the first half, 58% to be exact. This continued till the 54th minute of the game. The formations deployed by the two teams meant that there was numerical parity both on the flanks as well as central midfield. The game would hinge on who got the better of the other in either one of those two areas and it was Bafana Bafana that came on top in the midfield battle. 
 

Bafana Bafana pressed well not allowing their opponents time on the ball, nicking the ball off Sissoko several times. The movement and rotation of the midfield trio was also excellent able to run past their markers especially Mahlangu. He definitely had the better of Sissoko who looked sluggish at times and simply unable to keep up with the pace of Mahlangu, running past him on three separate occasions. Sissoko ans Sow had trouble tracking down these off the ball runs. To further add to the problem, Keita rather than press Furman, looked to drift towards the side the ball was when they were defending. Him being the linchpin of this Mali side, it would seem that he was instructed not to get himself too involved during the defensive phase. This allowed Furman to dictate play in midfield recording a pass accuracy of 75%. 
 

The goal and all the half chances that Bafana Bafana got all came through central midfield. The goal they got summed up Sissoko’s dismal display. After Khune’s excellent distribution, Sissoko failed to tract the run of Mahlangu eventually leading to the opening goal.  Khune’s distribution came after catching the ball from a Mali in swinging free kick. Statistics show that a team is more vulnerable to counter attacks when taking in swinging free kicks or corner kicks although it has to be pointed out that you also have a greater chance of scoring. That being said in hindsight, Sow should have taken up the covering position instead of Sissoko simply because the former is quicker than the latter or appear to be so on the day.
 

Mali did have the upper hand down the flanks. Tamboura and Diawara marauded forward on several occasions.  The two chances they created in the first half came down the wings. The first an overlapping run by Diawara followed by a pullback on the edge of the penalty area. The second came down the opposite flank. Tamboura’s overlapping run creating space for Diarra to shoot on goal.
 

54TH – 120TH minute:
 

Sissoko was replaced by Traore and rightfully so. With his introduction Mali appeared to swtich to a 4-2-3-1 formation.  Not only that, Sow now played roughly alongside Traore and didn’t venture forward as much as he did in the first half. The effect was immediate and it could be argued that it contributed to Mali getting and equalizer. Whereas as in the first half Mahlangu pressed or stayed goal side of Sissoko now he didn’t have a point of reference as Traore and Sow rotated. So when Mali passed the ball around at the back he now stayed alongside Majoro rather than drop. Sow received the ball in the space between the front two and the midfield line and Letsholonyane’s failure to tract Keita’s run lead to the equalizer.
 

After the goal South Africa’s midfield dominance waned not because they lost the grip on the game but because Mali defended better. Keita now dropped, pressed and tracked Furman. The double pivot ensured that Mahlangu and Letsholonyane couldn’t just run past as they had done in the first half when Sissoko was the only pivot. The game became more even with possession 51% to 49% in favour of Bafana Bafana. In extra time the game didn’t progress tactically.