Bafana Bafana midfielder Dean Furman admitted he practised penalties, but said the Mali goalkeeper guessed right and stopped his spot-kick in the shootout defeat.
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After 120 minutes the game ended 1-1, Tokelo Rantie netting for Bafana after 31 minutes and then Eagles captain Seydou Keita equalising in the second-half to send the game to a shoot-out.
Furman and his midfield partner May Mahlangu had their penalties stopped by Soumbeyla Diakite, while Lehlohonolo Majoro pulled his shot wide, ending hosts' run in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Adama Tamboura, Cheick Diabate and Mahamane Traore netted for Mali and although Furman is upset about the loss, he praised the AFCON experience.
"I must say that, I have never felt this way in my entire life. This is my best experience in my football career so far, and I am grateful for the opportunity," the Oldham skipper told Goal.com.
"Despite being disappointed because I would have loved to see us progressing, but I have accepted it and am ready to open the next chapter.
"During training we did practice penalties, and I was confident that I was going to score. I did everything right, I did pick my spot and the keeper guessed correctly.
"It's been an amazing journey and we have worked as a team which is important. I think personally I was happy with my performances despite minor mistakes, but I think it is important to focus on the positives and try to build from there.
"We have tough games ahead of us, and it will be important for each one of us to take the lessons that we learnt from this tournament and apply them going forward."
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