Mali suffered a thirlling 4-3 defeat to Gabon in the French town of Beauvais on Wednesday night, in their opening friendly of the current FIFA window ahead of their friendly against Ghana.
SC Bastia defender Drissa Diakité put the Eagles ahead after six minutes of play, with Wydad Casablanca striker Malick Evouna driving the equaliser in the 36th minute to send the two sides on equal footing into the break.
Serie A-based defender Molla Wagué gave Mali the lead for the second time in the 57th minute, but two goals from Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in two minutes just past the hour mark sent the Panthers in the driver’s seat for the first time in this match.
Midfielder Bakary Sako managed to level the matters with eight minutes to go for the Malians, but a last-minute goal from centre-back Bruno Ecuele Manga secured the win for Jorge Costa’s men.
The Panthers will try to keep their momentum when they face Belarus on March 30, while the Eagles will be looking to bounce back against the Black Stars of Ghana the following day.