JOHANNESBURG — Mali made a satisfactory start in pursuit of a second appearance at the Olympic Games football tournament by drawing 1-1 in Ethiopia Thursday.

Diadie Samadiare put the Malians ahead at Addis Ababa Stadium after 53 minutes of the second round first leg qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Desta Dana equalized on 74 minutes, but Ethiopia failed to score again and their prospects of progress appear bleak.

The countries meet Tuesday in Bamako and a 0-0 draw will suffice to take Mali through to a third-round tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo or Morocco during June.

Mali previously competed at the Olympics in Athens 15 years ago, reaching the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to eventual bronze medalists Italy.

Olympic qualifiers are restricted to under-23 footballers with three over-age players permitted at recent finals. — AFP