Stade Malien win Confederation Cup title

STADE Malien won the Confederation Cup after beating Algeria’s Entente Setif 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out on Saturday.The Malians beat the visitors 2-0 in the second-leg game in Bamako, leaving the final match at 2-2. Goalkeeper Diakite Soumbeyla became the hero during the shoot-out by saving three kicks to hand Mali its first continental title. Stade Malien will now face Champions League winners TP Mazembe of DR Congo next year for the Super Cup. The home side also won the Rwf374m prize-money following the win. Stade dominated the opening exchanges but Setif defenders Raho Slimane and Diss Smain were resolute as they thwarted their attackers. But the home side’s persistence paid off in the 52nd minute when striker Coulibaly Bakary broke the deadlock from a goalmouth melee. Ousmane Bakayoko converted a penalty three minutes later to level the tie after Slimane’s was adjudged to have fouled his marker. Setif had a late chance to prevent the home side from winning the title but Hemani Nabil shot wide with only the goal at his mercy. Previous winners of a competition that replaced the African Cup Winners Cup and Caf Cup in 2004 include Hearts of Oak of Ghana, FAR Rabat of Morocco, Etoile Sahel and fellow Tunisians Sfaxien, who won twice in succession. Ends

Lifestyle

Stade Malien win Confederation Cup title