Senegal defeated Mali 1-0 to advance to the AFCON 2025 semi-finals, where defending champions Ivory Coast or record champion Egypt await.
Recalled striker Iliman Ndiay scored a first-half goal as Senegal beat Mali 1-0 in a 10-a-side match in Tangier on Friday in the first quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mali’s hopes suffered a major blow in stoppage time of the first half when Yves Bissouma was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
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The only goal came after a blunder by Mali goalkeeper Gigi Diarra. He then made a series of great saves to prevent Senegal from increasing their lead.
Senegal will face defending champions Ivory Coast or seven-time champions Egypt, who they play on Saturday, in the semi-finals.
Malian player Racing Sinayoko appealed for a penalty just three minutes into the first half after being fouled by Senegalese captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was returning from a one-match suspension.
However, the South African referee ordered play to continue, and VAR confirmed the decision was correct. Big screen replays showed Shinayoko to be guilty of simulation.
Mali captain Bissouma received a yellow card midway through the first half for a foul on veteran Senegalese striker and two-time African Player of the Year Sadio Mane.
Shinayoko then made a breakthrough, but was thwarted by a brilliant sliding tackle from fellow French Ligue 1 player Crepin Diatta.
On a cold, cloudy night in the Mediterranean city, the stalemate was broken 27 minutes later, thanks to Ndiay.
He was involved in the move three times, until goalkeeper Gygi Diarra slipped Crepin Diarra’s cross under his body and Ndiay tapped the ball into the net.
The goal was a gift, but it gave Senegal a deserved lead as they dominated in their second AFCON encounter. The first draw took place in the 2004 group stage.
Pape Gueye, who scored twice for Senegal in the last-16 win over Sudan, fired a shot from outside the box that just missed the target.
And for the second successive knockout match, Mali were reduced to 10 men before half-time and Bissouma was shown a second yellow card, followed by a red card.
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder fouled Idrissa Gaye in midfield, but Mali’s plea for the incident to be investigated by VAR was rejected.
Mali showed incredible spirit when they were down to 10 men against Tunisia in the round of 16, and it was even more evident against Senegal as the second half progressed.
In the 55th minute, defender Abdullahi Diaby almost equalized when he advanced for a free kick. His shot from close range resulted in a reflexive save from former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Diarra made some excellent saves to atone for his first-half blunders to keep Mali’s dream of winning their first AFCON title alive.
With 15 minutes left in regulation time, scorer Ndiaye was substituted. Paris Saint-Germain’s 17-year-old forward Ibrahim Mbaye came on in his place, and his goal sealed the victory against Sudan.
Diarra came to Mari’s rescue again as time expired, blocking a shot from substitute Pate Sis, but his pass was cleared.
The Mali goalkeeper made another great save in the seventh minute of stoppage time, denying Lamine Kamara’s volley.
