Angola, reeling from the shock of the gun attack on the Togo team bus in Cabinda on Friday, were denied a winning start when they squandered a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Mali at Luanda's brand-new November 11 stadium.
The eight goals fell just one short of the 47-year-old record for the most in a single match at the Nations Cup finals.
Seydou Keita (79th, 90+) was on target twice, Frederic Kanoute (88th) and Mustapha (Yatabare 90+) netted onced each as the Malians scored four times in the last 11 minutes of an extraordinary game to deflate the Angolans who had looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory.
Angola were in complete control after striker Flavio (36th, 42nd) headed two goals in quick succession late in the first half. Gilberto (67th) added the third with a twice-taken penalty midway through the second and Manucho (74th) converted a second penalty to put them 4-0 up.
"In modern football you always have to believe and you have to be mentally strong," Mali captain Mahamadou Diarra told reporters.
"Our world was upside down in the second half but with our kind of experience we kept our cool and got back into the game."
