Mali’s Football Federation (FMF) have complained to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), that Algeria’s goalless draw with Angola yesterday contravened FIFA’s “ethics of fair play.”   The draw ensured a quarter-final place for both teams and kept Angola at their favoured Luanda venue.   In immediate post-match interviews, players said they knew long before the end of their match that Mali were defeating Malawi in the other Group A fixture and that a 0-0 draw would meet their aims.

However, Algerian coach Rabat Sadaane told Reuters: “Algeria were victims of an arrangement between Austria and Germany in 1982. I can guarantee that Algeria and Angola did not do anything like that.”

West Germany’s 1-0 win over Austria in the 1982 World Cup saw both sides through at Algeria’s expense and since then, the final group fixtures in international finals have been played simultaneously.

The Algerians and Angolans played out a tepid last half-hour. But a draw for Malawi against Mali would have eliminated Algeria, and the Flames were only 2-1 down between the 58^th and 85^th minutes.

Mali striker Mamadou Bagayoko expressed his disappointment that his side went out despite a superior goal difference - scoring seven goals to Algeria’s one. The Fennecs qualified with the better “head-to-head” record, as they scored in their 1-0 win over Mali.

Bagayoko said: “They changed the rules this year and we are out. It’s a pity because we are a really talented bunch of players.”