LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AFP) — Mali beat Gabon 5-4 on penalties here yesteray after this finely balanced Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final ended 1-1 following extra time.

Barcelona star Seydou Keita converted the decisive spot kick after the co-hosts’ top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang watched in disbelief as Mali keeper Soumaila Diakite dived left to save his effort.

The Eagles’ reward is a semi-final date with Ivory Coast back at Libreville’s L’Amitie stadium on Wednesday.

For Gabon, who were unbeaten in the first round, this was a cruel end to their campaign, reviving as it did memories of their defeat on penalties to Tunisia in their only other quarter-final appearance in 1996.

At the post-match press conference Keita made an emotional plea for peace in his country following the killing by the Malian army of some 20 Tuareg rebels in the northern city of Timbuktu.

“Yes we won but I’m afraid about what’s happening back home. It’s not normal, it’s not normal that Malians are killing themselves.”

Turning to his penalty heroics the veteran said: “It was like a dream when I scored the winning penalty. I’m so proud to wear this shirt. I’ve won a lot with Barcelona, but this is like winning the Cup.”

Gabon coach Gernot Rohr said: “It’s always difficult when you’re pulled back level in the closing minutes. We lacked a little physical freshness, my players gave a lot in the first round.They can leave this competition with their heads held high.”

Mali welcomed back midfielder Samba Diakite from suspension, with Garre Dembele dropping to the bench, and keeper Diakite coming on for Oumar Sissoko.

Among the crowd were the Gabon president and his First Lady sporting as usual the Panthers’ yellow shirt.

Aubameyang had the first gilt-edged chance appproaching the half hour, beating the offside trap to flick the ball past Soumaila Diakite only to see his effort hit the far post.

Gabon got the goal they deserved in the 55th minute when Aubameyang raced onto a high ball from the left, his back pass across the box falling to Mouloungui to slam past Diakite.

As the game exploded Cousin almost bagged Gabon’s second on 58 minutes, the unmarked former Hull City forward’s shot skimming past Diakite to hit the far post.

Mali were fighting for their Nations Cup existence and with six minutes left in regulation time Diabate levelled not long after entering the fray in place of Samba Sow, the Bordeaux striker turning to shrug off his markers in the box and leaving Ovono with little chance.

Rohr knows Diabete only too well, having signed him during his days as coach of Ajaccio.

The two sides were still deadlocked after extra time — Keita shot high in the last seconds — and Algerian referee Haimoudi Djameil pointed to the spot for the nerve jingling climax.

After Diakite had saved Aubameyang’s kick it was left to Keita to step up and coolly slot home Mali’s fifth to send the Eagles’ spirits soaring while the Gabon team rushed to console a tearful Aubameyang.

Ghana advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Tunisia 2-1 in their late quarter-final showdown.