Hosts Angola blew a four-goal lead to be held to a 4-4 draw by Mali on Sunday in the opening match of the African Nations Cup overshadowed by the ambush of the Togo team bus which killed three people.
Striker Flavio headed two goals in quick succession late in the first half, Gilberto added the third with a twice-taken penalty midway through the second and Manucho converted a second penalty to put Angola 4-0 ahead.
Mali, hugely disappointing until then, hit back in the 79th minute through Seydou Keita. Frederic Kanoute headed another two minutes from time in the Group A match before Keita and substitute Mustapha Yatabare scored in stoppage time.
The tournament had been thrown into doubt after Friday's attack on the Togo team bus in the enclave of Cabinda in which the driver was killed along with two members of the Togolese delegation.
Mali midfielder Seydou Keita said the physchological boost from their remarkable comeback will stand them in good stead for the rest of the African Nations Cup.
Barcelona midfielder Keita, who surprisingly started on the bench before entering the fray 35 minutes in, told Eurosport: 'There was a lot of pressure on us. I condeded a penalty and they kept scoring.
'I just couldn't imagine we could fight back like that. We wanted to win but of course we are happy to get a point in the end. We were bad in the first half, mentally we weren't really at the races.
'It didn't look like we would get anything but luckily we managed to get a point and we are happy.
'It's good for us mentally, our confidence, but we have to be careful to not make too many mistakes.
'There is a lot to correct before the next match.'
