Live Commentary

Last Updated at 8:55 pm, February 5th 2012

1. Gabon will be heartbroken after failing to hold onto their 1-0 lead in regulation time. They have lost out on spot-kicks, but what a tournament for them. Mali now go on to face the Ivory Coast in the semi-finals. Thanks for joining us and stay tuned for Ghana v Tunisia...

2. Keita has won it for Mali who beat Gabon 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 at the end of extra-time.

3. Mali: Seydou Keita - SCORES, bottom left.

4. Gabon: Bruno Ecuele Manga - SCORES, straight down the middle

5. Mali: Bakaye Traore - SCORES, top left

6. Gabon: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - SAVED, bottom right

7. Mali: Cedric Kante - SCORES, bottom right

8. Gabon: Eric Mouloungui - SCORES, bottom left

9. Mali: Mustapha Yatabare - SCORES, bottom left.

10. Gabon: Bruno Mbanangoye Zita - SCORES, top left

11. Mali: Cheick Diabate - SCORES - with a bullett past the keeper's right-hand side.

12. Gabon: Andre Biyogo Poko - SCORES, low to the keeper's left.

13. 120

    Maiga lucky not to get a second yellow card for a bit of play-acting there after a soft foul but he does win a free-kick. Keita hits the ball over the bar for the last kick og the game from the resultant set-piece - how did he miss that one? But it doesn't matter as we go to a penalty shoot-out.

14. 119

    Mali now with a slow build with Maiga looking for a cross - but he wins a corner. The Eagles have been dangerous from wide balls but not this time as the ball goes out for a goal kick.

15. 115

    Gabon have the ball in these final minutes but just can't get the better of a tight Mali defence. Tense final to this match, with penalties looming.

16. 111

    It's all Mali as Diabate cuts inside from the left before hitting high and wide form distance.

17. 110

    Diabate headers wide after being perfectly picked out by Keita from a central free-kick for Mali.

18. 109

    Ovono shows a safe pair of hands as he gets up high to claim a free-kick from the left-hand side.

19. 108

    Diakite is getting better and better for Mali with the Eagles clearly the stronger side with just 15 minutes remaining.

20. 105

    The referee brings to an end the first half of extra time and it is a quick cross over with no time to rest.

21. 100

    Poko loses the ball to Diakite who he subsequently fouls - free-kick to Mali - Yatabare floats the ball up to Diabate but Ovono is first to it - as Soumaila Diakite is forced to punch clear at the other end.

22. 98

    A Mouloungui free-kick is easily dealt with by Diakite as Diabate continues to harass the Gabon defence.

23. 95

    Gabon look tired here as they are easily forced off the ball time and time again.

24. 92

    Cedric Moubamba makes way for Lloyd Palun.

25. 92

    We haven't mentioned Yatabare really since his introduction, but he has really made an impact, winning a number of headers and now laying the ball off to Maiga, who smashes a shot wide of goal.

26. 90

    Gabon get this first half of extra time underway...

27. It comes down to fitness and concentration with plenty of tired legs out there. Can Gabon push on and find another goal or will Mali do what they did to Botswana and come from behind for a win?

28. 90+4

    Very difficult to see which way this game is going to go now with both sides struggling to get their attacks going. Aubameyang has a weak shot on goal - for what turns out to be the last kick of the game - stay with us - we are heading into extra time!!

29. 90

    Diabate goes down in the box but no appeals for a penalty. There will be four anxious minutes of added time.

30. 88

    Mali are looking more comfortable on the ball now as they search for a winner with just two minutes of this match remaining before extra-time.

31. 85

    Maiga is booked by referee Haimoudi.

32. 84

    Cheick Diabate has scored for Mali only minutes after coming on as a sub. A super ball from the left from Tamboura was perfectly cushioned down by Maiga into the path of the big man who turned on a six-pence before forcing the ball under the body of Ovono.

33. 80

    Diakite has to scramble to his right as Poko unleashes a shot from distance that goes just wide.

34. 79

    Mali have the upper hald here for a change as with the game winding down, they have very little time to save their Africa Nations Cup.

35. 76

    Cheick Diabate comes on for Samba Sow.

36. 74

    Edmond Mouele also goes into the book.

37. 74

    Fabrice Do Marcolino upends Adama Tamboura after losing the ball.

38. 71

    Moise Brou Apanga's poor clearance allows Maiga in on goal but Ovono is equal to his well-hit low shot from the centre of the goal.

39. 70

    Aubameyang volleys the ball over the bar from a cross field pass from Mouloungui, but he skies his effort over the bar.

40. 69

    Daniel Cousin goes of to a huge ovation with Fabrice Do Marcolino the player coming on.

41. 66

    Sow smashes a shot wide of the post for Mali. Frustration is starting to show on their faces as the Eagles defence again look shaky under pressure form the Gabon frontline.

42. 65

    Gabon are still asking questions of the Mali defence as Mouloungui flicks the ball over his head for Aubameyang who looks to feed Cousin in the box but Berthe is well placed to clear.

43. 62

    Abdou Traore makes way for Mustapha Yatabare as Mali try to get back into this tie.

44. 59

    Now Cousin hits the post after a super cross from Levy Madinda, as Diakite shephards Mouloungui out of play after some more direct approach play.

45. 57

    Mali respond as Maiga gets a shot on target but Ovono gets down well to palm the ball away.

46. 55

    Eric Mouloungui has put the ball into the back of the net after Mali failed to clear their lines. Aubameyang picked up a misdirected header from Mali before cutting the ball back from the left hand side and after some more slack defending, Mouloungui pounched to side-foot the ball past Diakite, albeit with a slight deflection.

47. 53

    An over elaborate free-kick from Keita sets Gabon on the counter and Poko does well to slide in on Mouloungui to cut out a cross from the left-hand side.

48. 50

    It has become something of a stop-start affair here with a succession of fouls disrupting the free-flowing football we saw in the first half.

49. 47

    Gabon making their intentions clear at the start of this second period as they pour forward in attack but Cedric Kante beats Aubameyang to a flick forward and hoofs the ball clear.

50. 46

    The players are back on the pitch and Gabon will get this second half underway...

51. 45+2

    One last chance here for Mali with a free-kick here. No, referee Djamel Haimoudi from Algeria has decided that will be it for the first half. The Eagles started brighter but Gabon have certainly threatened their opponents in an entertaining first half that somehow has remained 0-0.

52. 45+1

    There will be two minutes of added time...

53. 45

    Moise Brou Apanga is forced to track Diakite all the way to his own goal after a deft chip from Maiga sets the player up - good strength their from the defender.

54. 43

    Traore is trying to work some magic for Mali with the half winding down. Sambia Diakite wins a free-kick that Seydou Keita overhits with Ovono able to collect under no pressure whatsoever.

55. 40

    Mali are really struggling to contain Gabon as Samba Sow loses the ball in a dangerous position on the edge of the box before Ousmane Berthe gives away a free-kick 22m from goal. Mouloungui bends his shot around the wall but it is an easy save for Diakite.

56. 32

    Mali's defence continues to be caught out and its that pairing again that threatens to expose them. Cousin, however, just fails to pick out a pass for his partner after breaking down the left and in acres of space - with the Aubameyang given an impossible angle to shoot from.

57. 30

    Aubameyang again, after another Cousin knockdown but this time the young striker blasts over the bar.

58. 29

    Aubameyang comes agonisngly close as he hits the outside of the post. The striker was played through delightfully and lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper but just failed to get the right kind of contact on the ball.

59. 25

    Two free-kicks in similar positions out wide for Gabon - Aubameyang's first effort is easily cleared but the second one is drifted deeper to the back post where Andre Biyogo Poko is waiting, but he just can't stick out he head far enough to get a touch.

60. 22

    Drissa Diakite is yellow carded for a foul on Eric Mouloungui.

61. 20

    Berthe makes a superb tackle on Cousin in the box to deny the big striker a shooting opportunity. It looked like a penalty at first glance.

62. 18

    It's end to end at the moment here as Gabon waste a really good chance. Cousin gets his head to a well-weighted delivery from Eric Mouloungui from the right, but just can't get high enough to keep his header down. But Aubameyang was better positioned behind him at the back post,if only Cousin had left the ball for his strike partner.

63. 15

    This is much better from Mali, but after weaving their way through the Gabon defence, they are lucky to win a free-kick on the edge of the box as Abdou Traore looks to have lost his balence. Samba Sow smashes the set-piece over the cross bar.

64. 13

    Mali under a bit of pressure here but Ousmane Berthe does very well to head clear a ball in from the right-hand side. Gabon win a corner but it comes to nothing.

65. 10

    Time has stopped here in Libreville as Didier Ovono recieves treatment after falling badly. The keeper did well to get up to a superb cross from Abdou Traore, but fell to the ground under pressure from Samba Sow.

66. 8

    Some tense moments in the Mali defence as Cousin acts as provider this time with a flicked header for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Cedric Kante recovers to head clear the danger.

67. 5

    Gabon enjoy their first real spell of possession after five minutes and after some neat interplay, Bruno Ecuele Manga releases Daniel Cousin with a angled ball with the outside of his boot, but he just overhits the pass and Soumaila Diakite gets his first touch on the ball.

68. 3

    The Eagles attack The Panthers at pace from the off with Modibo Maiga showing he is up for this match with a couple of driving runs from that left-hand flank already. It's pretty tight in their though with Gabon quick to close down their opponents.

69. 1

    Mali get this clash underway...

70. There will be a minute's silence for the tragic events that unfolded in Egypt this week.

71. The players are on the pitch and have lined up for their national anthems, we are only moments away from kick-off...

72. Gabon have made three changes with Mouloungui, Madinda and Moubamba back in the side while Cousin keeps his place upfront. Mali, meanwhile, make two changes with goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko as well as Garra Demble out with Soumalia Diakite and Samba Diakite their respective replacements.

73. Mali: 1-Soumaila Diakite; 14-Drissa Diakite, 5-Cedric Kante, 4-Ousmane Berthe, 3-Adama Tamboura; 15-Bakaye Traore, 18-Samba Sow, 20-Sambia Diakite, 7-Abdou Traore, 12-Seydou Keita; 10-Modibo Maiga

74. Gabon: 1-Didier Ovono; 3-Edmond Mouele, 17-Moise Brou Apanga, 5-Bruno Ecuele Manga, 22-Charly Moussonou; 18-Cedric Moubamba, 14-Levy Madinda, 15-Andre Biyogo Poko, 11-Eric Mouloungui; 9-Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 10-Daniel Cousin

75. Team news is in...

76. The Eagles, meanwhile, won two and lost one of their three Group C encounters to book their last-eight spot, and the country's supporters know all about progressing to the semis, having watched the team win all three of their previous AFCON quarter-final contests.

77. The AFCON co-hosts progressed to the first knock-out stage for the first time in 16 years with a 100% record from Group B and will have the backing of an entire nation when they walk out onto the pitch in Libreville.

78. Later, Ghana and Tunisia come face to face - with a semi-final clash with Zambia the reward for the winner after Chipolopolo defeated Sudan 3-0 in their quarter-final.

79. Hosts Gabon are set to battle it out with Mali, in the first of today's quarter-finals, for a place in the semis and the chance to test their mettle against the Ivory Coast - this after The Elephants cruised past Equatorial Guinea in their last eight clash on Saturday.

80. Good afternoon and welcome to another epic Africa Cup of Nations encounter.