The Eagles were tied at 1-1 with South Africa after extra-time in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations before using their experience and big-match temperament to coast through the shootout.
MATCH REPORT: South Africa crash out to Mali
Sissoko admitted his teammates were troubled by Bafana’s start – and the home support – but they were confident in their ability to finish strongly.
“All you could hear is the vuvuzelas and everyone wanted South Africa to go through, so you play not just the team, but the fans also. It was a very tough game for us, South Africa were very good and they played well,” he said.
When asked what coach Patrice Carteron had told Mali at half-time, after they had been completely dominated by Bafana in the opening 45 minutes and went a goal behind thanks to a Tokelo Rantie strike, Sissoko added: “He told us to just stay calm, to continue what we were doing and push a little bit harder because South Africa would get tired. He told us to use our experience.”
Sissoko singled out Dean Furman, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and May Mahlangu for special praise. “The midfield was very good; they had lots of energy and made us work. South Africa are a good team with good supporters, so we are happy to go through.”
ALSO READ: How Bafana rated against Mali
Mali will face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in the last-four tie at Moses Mabhida on Wednesday.
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khosi 4 lyf till toothless chairman engage with tp mazembe abt kalaba
khosi 4 lyf till toothless chairman engage with tp mazembe abt kalaba
ABSA Premiership Home Fixtures including the much awaited Soweto Derby are now on sale at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers nationwide. This is the season for us to
Reclaim the Glory! We hope that the Afcon fever will rub off on to the league in terms of the supporters buying their tickets in
advance. If you look at the game between Bafana Bafana and Mali, the tickets were sold out days before the encounter. We need to inculcate this culture in the supporters. We believe this will make things easy for the supporters to be able
to plan in advance; added Maphosa.
Kaizer Chiefs Home games in 2012/2013:
-Kaizer Chiefs v Free State Stars at FNB Stadium
Date: Saturday, 16 February 2013
Time: 20H15
-Kaizer Chiefs v Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium
Date: Saturday, 02 March 2013
Time: 18H00
-Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium
Date: Saturday, 09 March 2013
Time: 15H00
-Kaizer Chiefs v Maritzburg United at Peter Mokaba Stadium
Date: Wednesday, 03 April 2013
Time: 19H30
-Kaizer Chiefs v Supersport United at Peter Mokaba Stadium
Date: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Time: 19:30
-Kaizer Chiefs v Platinum Stars at Peter Mokaba Stadium
Date: Sunday, 28 April 2013
Time: 15:00
You played and we support you all the way...
Bafana Bafana forever
Eyi wena small balls, you talking rubbish. Stop drinking Black label,flippin Gorilla