كتب : Hatem Maher
Angola went to the locker room with a 2-0 lead, thanks to trademark headers from Al-Shabab striker Flavio.
Ahli winger Gilberto and Real Valladolid Manucho added two further goals in the second half that could not kill off Mali's hopes.
A brace from Seydou Keita in addition to goals from Frederic Kanoute and Mustapha Yatabare, who scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time, made it a night to remember for the Malians.
Angola coach Manuel Jose and Flavio, who was substituted late in the game, looked furious with their team for throwing away a 4-0 lead.
Flavio Headers
Mali, who lacked creativity, failed to mount any sort of threat during a somewhat dull first half.
Angola were the lively side, with their wingers Gilberto and Mabina causing plenty of problems for the Malians.
The hosts took a deserved lead on 36 minutes after a trademark combination between Flavio and Gilberto, who were teammates at Cairo giants Ahli.
They evoked the memories of breaking down the toughest of defenses in the Egyptian Premier League when Flavio, renowned for his aerial prowess despite his diminutive size, was found unmarked by a neat Gilberto free-kick to head in at the far post.
He doubled Angola's advantage three minutes before the break through another header after meeting a right-wing cross from Mabina.
The Palancas Negras looked on their way to an impressive win in the second period but astonishingly surrendered their comfortable lead in a heartbreaking fashion.
Gilberto was awarded a spot kick in the 65th minute after he was felled by Mamadou Bagayoko to add the third with a retaken penalty ordered by Egyptian referee Essam Abdul-Fattah.
Manucho thought he had put the result beyond doubt when he converted another penalty on 74 minutes.
Remarkable Comeback
Angola's enthusiastic fans were already celebrating a win when Mali stormed back within the last 11 minutes of the game.
Barcelona midfielder Keita, who was introduced before the break instead of the injured Modibo Maiga, notched home in a goalmouth scramble in the 79th minute after a blunder from keeper Carlos, who saw a tame cross squirm through his grasp.
Kanoute further narrowed the gap two minutes from normal time with a powerful towering header.
Keita scored his second of the night in the 93rd minute with a far-post volley before Yatabare secured a share of spoils two minutes later on the rebound to break Angola hearts.