It was a case of Déjà vu for Bafana Bafana as it was 11 years ago in 2002 when Mali ousted them from the Africa Cup of Nations, it was a repeat as the Eagles came from a goal down in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Quarterfinals game at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban to eliminate Bafana Bafana 3-1 penalties from the tournament, after the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after 120 minutes.

South Africa took the lead in the 31st minute through Tokelo Rantjie, Mali equalized with Seydou Keita scoring in the second half before Mali prevailed in the shoot-out.

Siboniso Gaxa marched up the right wing in the 13th minute and swung the ball goal-wards, May Mahlangu managed to leap up but could only graze the ball with the side of his head as it went out for a goal kick.

In the 31st minute Itumeleng Khune’s pin point ball distribution was at the heart of a successful Bafana Bafana move, it started with the Chiefs No 1 plucking the ball out of the air as he intercepted a Malian free kick.

He quickly sent the ball deep into Malian territory seeking out Bernard Parker, the Chiefs striker was felled in clash of heads with Adama Coulibally, the ball fell to Mahlangu who ran through the middle before sending the ball to Thuso Phala to his left, he sent it across the face of goal to the far post where Tukelo Rantie was on hand to push the ball home to give South Africa a 1-0 lead going into the break.

Rantjie went off soon after scoring as a result of injury and was replaced by another Chiefs player Lehlohonolo Majoro, fifteen minutes into the second half Mali were able to draw level Samba Sow surged forward - he passed the ball up to his left where Mahamadou Samassa was lurking.

He sliced the ball towards the centre of goal where Seydou Keita was able to run unmarked and with Khune helpless, he managed to head the ball down and despite the ball hitting Khune it bounced past him and over the line to draw Mali level.

A few minutes later Khune was called into action again, a short pass by Gaxa towards Siyabonga Sangweni was intercepted by Samassa on the left he raced towards goal, Khune came off his line and narrowed the angle for the Malian. When he did attempt to curl the ball round him, Khune had done all the hard work and threw his body on the line to block the ball.

Amakhosi winger Siphiwe Tshabalala came on at the start of the second half of extra time for Bernard Parker, it was the first time that all seven Chiefs players had featured in the same game at the 2013 Nations Cup.

Tshabalala injected life into the team but could not change the course of the game and it headed to a penalty shoot-out, Shabba stood up and took South Africa’s first spot kick converting it comfortably.

From then things did not work out for Bafana Bafana, while Cheick Diabate, Adama Tamboura and Mahamane Traore all converted their spot kicks for Mali, Dean Furman and May Mahlangu had their kicks saved by Soumaila Diakite, Majoro sent his kick wide of goal to hand Mali their sixth appearance in the semifinals and their second in last four appearance in succession.

Diakite who was Mali’s second choice in this tournament only featured in the game because first choice keeper Mamadou Samassa was suspended, just like he did in the 2012 Quarterfinals when he was the penalty shoot -out hero as he bundled out co-hosts Gabon from the tournament, he did it again breaking the hearts of a host nation for the second tournament in a row.

The loss was particularly hard on Itumeleng Khune who had carried Bafana Bafana through the group stages and made important stops during this game, for Bafana Bafana its out of the Nations Cup while Mali remain in Durban to face either Ivory Coast or Nigeria in the semifinals in what will be their sixth appearance in the last four.

Mali faced an Africa Cup of Nations hosts for the fifth time and they are undefeated, it was also their fifth appearance in the Quarterfinals and they have managed to keep that record intact too.