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Senegal edge Mali to reach AFCON 2025 semifinals in hard-fought quarterfinal
One mistake, a costly red card before the break, and a valiant stand that fell just short. Senegal booked their semifinal spot in a tense quarterfinal battle.
A physical start sets the tone
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From the opening whistle in Tangier, Mali and Senegal delivered a fierce, high-intensity contest. Space was at a premium, challenges flew in across midfield, and neither side was willing to concede control.
The Eagles looked to build patiently through short spells of possession, while the Lions of Teranga focused on quick transitions, with Sadio Mané spearheading their attacking threat.
A costly error breaks the deadlock
The balance was finally broken in the 27th minute, and it came from a moment of misfortune for Mali. A mistake in distribution by goalkeeper Djigui Diarra gifted the ball to Iliman Ndiaye, who calmly finished from close range to give Senegal a 1–0 lead.
It was a decisive blow. While Mali steadied themselves enough to reach halftime only one goal down, momentum had clearly swung in Senegal’s favor.
The red card that changed everything
Deep into first-half stoppage time, the match took a dramatic turn. Yves Bissouma was shown a second yellow card, leaving Mali reduced to 10 men heading into the break.
From that moment, the equation was clear: Senegal held both the lead and the numerical advantage, while Mali faced an uphill battle to stay alive.
Diarra keeps Mali dreaming
The second half quickly turned into sustained pressure from Senegal, but Djigui Diarra refused to let the contest slip away. The Malian goalkeeper produced two outstanding saves in quick succession, denying powerful efforts from Sadio Mané and Pathé Ismaël Ciss.
Despite Senegal’s substitutions and constant probing, the tempo remained high, with every challenge fiercely contested and little margin for error.
Brave resistance, but no reward
Playing an entire half a man down, Mali defended with discipline and pride, yet struggled to generate real danger going forward. Senegal, composed and pragmatic, managed the game intelligently and avoided unnecessary risks.
At the final whistle, the 1–0 scoreline sent the Lions of Teranga into the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, reinforcing their status as genuine title contenders.
Senegal move on. Mali exit with heads held high, undone by fine margins and a moment that changed the course of the match.
