Is it bitterness or is there really something there?  That’s the question the Confederation of African Football will have to answer as Mali officials have lodged a “Fair Play” complaint over the Angola vs Algeria match played on Monday, the very match that knocked them out of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Via Yahoo

“I can tell you Mali have lodged a complaint to CAF regarding the match between Angola and Algeria,” Mali official Alassane Souleymane said.

Mali federation general secretary Boubacar Thiam said in a letter to CAF, of which Reuters obtained a copy, that the second half between Algeria and Angola broke the “fair play” policy.

Mali missed out on a quarter-final place despite beating Malawi 3-1 in their final Group A game on Monday, the goalless draw between hosts Angola and Algeria meaning both those teams qualified.

“We vehemently protest against the behaviour of the Algerian and Angolan teams during the final game of the group phase of the African Nations Cup,” Thiam said in the letter.

“The second half of this game looked a hardly contested one, with both teams systematically refusing to play and trying to keep the 0-0 scoreline that would qualify them both.

“This behaviour goes against ethics and fair play advocated by FIFA and CAF. It must be condemned with the greatest energy. It does not honour African football and football in general.”

The CAF were not available for comment.

Image via WorldCupBlog