© Reuters 2002

By Mark Gleeson

KAYES, Mali, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Host nation Mali deservedly beat former African champions South Africa 2-0 on Sunday to reach the last four of the African Nations Cup and spark scenes of national rejoicing.

Midfielder Bassala Toure's thunderous shot after an hour set up the victory after a slow and cautious start to the much-anticipated match and substitiute Drame Coulibaly wrapped up the issue, making it 2-0 in stoppage time.

Mali now return to their capital Bamako on Thursday where they face either defending champions Cameroon or Egypt.

While Toure blasted the ball home, Coulibaly tapped home Toure's square pass in stoppage time to send the crowd into raptures.

Coulibaly then took off his shirt, laid it on the pitch and danced around it with his team mates in one of the more off-beat goal celebrations seen for some time.

Toure proved the hero but was injured after the match in a crowd invasion after being mobbed by fans who rushed on the pitch at the finish.

Slow Game
South Africa had purposely slowed down play in the first part of the game and deadened the potentially explosive atmosphere in the 15,000-capacity stadium but the ploy back-fired when Toure jinxed his way through before firing wide of goalkeeper Hans Vonk's outstretched arm.

Mali created the better chances but there were no clear-cut chances in a game where both defences gave little away.

Captain Soumailia Coulibaly's square cross after eight minutes presented a half chance for Mali striker Mamadou Bagayoko but he reacted too slowly to take advantage.

The hosts had a scare four minutes later when Benni McCarthy intercepted a shallow back pass by Fousseini Diawara but Mali goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe quickly reclaimed the loose ball before the South African striker could thread a pass through.

Sibusiso Zuma had South Africa's first effort on the Malian goal seconds before the end of the first half - an indication of how unadventurous the World Cup finalists were.

Reflex Save
But Mali came within inches of the opening goal nine minutes

into the second half when Seydou Keita's chipped free kick sailed over all the players in the penalty area and needed a reflex save from Vonk to keep it out.

Then came Toure's snap fire goal, which brought the crowd to life and injected some pace into the game.

Mali's German-based defender Boubacar Diarra cleared off the line in the 75th minute from South African substitute Delron Buckley, who volleyed a loose ball goalwards after Mali had failed to properly clear a corner.

The result ensures Mali have reached the Nations Cup semifinal in all three of their appearances in the African championship.

South Africa join Tunisia on the list of World Cup finalists who have been eliminated from the tournament.