And some more reaction from the lobby.
Domani Dore, the Guinean sports minister, had this to say about winning the draw: “Today is a very important day for our country. It shows when you work hard, and work together, good things can happen.” And some togethernesss: “The whole of Africa has come together to fight the Ebola epidemic, including our brothers in Mali. They are a brother country.”
Meanwhile, Amara Dabo, financial director of the Guinea Sports Ministry, who pulled out the winning ball, said: “The gods of football fortune smiled on us. It has been a long road up to now.”
Updated
Reuters have reported how the event itself unfolded.
A representative from both countries drew a ball each from a bowl with Mali’s football association president Boubacar Diarra going first and pulling out the one that placed them third in the group and out of the running. Amara Dabo, financial director of the Guinea Sports Ministry, then drew the ball that confirmed his side in second place behind group winners Ivory Coast.
Some reaction is starting to make it out of the scrum. On one side, Guinea’s minister for youth admits: “We’re lucky to go through. Nobody expected us to be here, but we believe we can go all the way.” And on the other side:
A Malian delegate in a grey suit has walked out crying. "It's the cruellest way to lose," said another. "They have to find another way."
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) January 29, 2015
Diabo looks a little overcome. His brow is beaded in sweat and he keeps on putting his hand to his head. He's wearing a white Hackett top.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) January 29, 2015
Diabo's now dancing with a man in an orange shirt. He's now speaking on two phones simultaneously. He's milking this and why not?
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) January 29, 2015
More from Jonathan Wilson in the lobby. “The bowl was carried back towards the kitchen. I think it may just have been one they use for the buffet. Amara Diabo, from the Guinean sports ministry, did the draw. He’s just jogged down the length of the lobby, beaming, and is now giving interviews.” Reaction, from both sides, to follow.
Good pre-draw shout below the line, but it wasn’t to be.
Heady scenes at the Hilton. After all the preparation, the training, the massive budgets and outlays by fans, Mali are out without having lost a game, and Guinea are through without having won one. They play Ghana in the quarter-finals.
Huge cheers, Guineans hugging, the bowl has emerged from the third lift-shaft.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) January 29, 2015
The 3pm deadline has arrived. It’s all going on on the fourth floor. And it’s getting too much in the lobby.
They've blocked off two of the three lifts with bins. There'll be no gatecrashing.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) January 29, 2015
Meanwhile in the lobby...
The big screen in the corner of the lobby is showing Pirates of the Caribbean, but the mood's so tense nobody's watching it.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) January 29, 2015
Early speculation is in.
BREAKING NEWS: Guinea and Mali have drawn in the drawing of lots. Winner to be decided by a Dance Off.
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) January 29, 2015
Jonathan Wilson is there for us. The draw looks like its happening on the fourth floor – home to normal rooms and the presidential suite. “The lobby is filling up with journalists, most of them badgering Natalie, the beleaguered CAF rep, to be allowed upstairs. She’s adamant that it’s Malians, Guineans and international agencies only.”
There are better ways of sorting this out, right?
Updated
Preamble
So it’s come to this. Heads or tails, short straws, the Ip Dip Africa Cup of Nations. With Mali and Guinea on P3 D3 F3 A3 Pts3 in Group D, instead of being split by penalties or a replay or a golden goal, they’re waiting on a lucky dip in a hotel room in Malabo to see who plays Ghana in the quarters. The coaches aren’t having it. “We must find a fairer way,” says Mali’s Henryk Kasperczak. “This does not correspond to a sporting spirit.” Guinea’s Michel Dussuyer: “Mali do not deserve to be eliminated in this way, just as we do not. No-one deserves to be eliminated.”
That might be problematic, too. But there are precedents: Algeria made it to the Afcon knockouts in 1988 instead of the Ivory Coast via lots. A 1954 World Cup qualifier in Rome between Turkey and Spain was settled by blindfolding 14-year-old Luigi Franco Gemma and asked him to choose one of them – the scamp sent Spain home. And in 1990 Sepp Blatter, who only really comes alive when there’s a chance of an honest, fair-play solution to a problem, conducted a glitzy live draw on TV to decide Group F’s final table.
So can today top Sepp’s show? Here’s what is about to happen, says CAF: “There will be two balls, with position two (2) and position three (3), and the representative of the two teams will pick a ball from the pot. The one who picks position two (2) qualifies for the quarter final.” Can’t say fairer than that.
Updated
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