After the referee scandal at the Africa Cup of Nations in the first round match against Mali (0:1), the protest of fellow favorites Tunisia was dismissed.
"After examining the Tunisian protest and the report of the referee, the organizing committee decided to reject the protest of the Tunisian team and to give the game a 1-0 score for Mali," said the African continental football association CAF.
Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe twice ended the game early in Group F.
First he blew the whistle in the 86th minute when Mali was 1-0, realized his mistake after protests from the Tunisian side, apologized and let the ball continue.
The final whistle of the match in Limbe, Cameroon, came after 89:45 minutes and was at least 15 seconds too early.
The referee team had to leave the field under the protection of security forces.
Cameroon in the round of 16
About half an hour later, with the press conference well underway, the game seemed to be about to resume. The Malians, with Bundesliga pros Amadou Haidara of RB Leipzig and Diadie Samassekou (TSG Hoffenheim) returned to the pitch for the final seconds of regulation time and any potential stoppage time. However, the Tunisians with Cologne's Ellyes Skhiri stayed in the dressing room - and now have to go into the further weeks of the tournament with the burden of a possibly avoidable defeat.
Hosts Cameroon meanwhile became the first team to reach the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The team led by Munich-based Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting beat Ethiopia 4-1 (1-1) at the start of the second matchday of the preliminary round after falling behind and celebrated their second win.
Karl Toko Ekambi (8'/67') and Vincent Aboubakar (53'/55'), who had scored twice in the opening game, each scored two goals to ensure Cameroon's victory in the end.
Striker Dawa Hotessa (4th) initially surprisingly put the underdog in the lead.
The game was only the second in which more than one goal was scored.
After Cameroon's 2-1 win in their opening game against Burkina Faso, the tournament saw two clean sheets and nine 1-0 draws.
On Thursday evening there was only one goal again when Burkina Faso clinched their first win by beating the Cape Verde Islands 1-0 (1-0).
Hassane Bande scored in the 39th minute.
Both teams are now level on three points behind Cameroon.
The 33rd Africa Cup runs until February 6th.