Senegal beat Mali on Friday 9 January 2025 to reach AFCON semi-finals after edging a tense, hard-fought quarter-final encounter that ultimately exposed Mali’s long-standing struggles in front of goal. It was not a classic, but it was a mature, street-wise performance from the reigning African champions.
The Lions of Teranga could have wrapped this contest up much earlier. Senegal created enough clear chances to score two or three goals, but poor finishing and an inspired performance from Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra kept the scoreline tight. Sadio Mané, in particular, saw several efforts denied as Diarra stood tall when Mali needed him most.
The breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute when Iliman Ndiaye calmly finished to give Senegal a deserved lead. It was a moment of quality in an otherwise cagey opening half, and it tilted the balance firmly in Senegal’s favour.
Mali’s task became even harder just before the break when Yves Bissouma was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in stoppage time. Reduced to ten men before half-time, Mali were forced into survival mode against a Senegal side well versed in managing games at this level.
To Mali’s credit, they did not fold. Even a man down, they showed fight, organisation and discipline, pushing Senegal deep at times and searching for an equaliser that never came. However, the same problem that haunted them throughout the tournament returned at the worst possible moment, a lack of sharpness in the final third.
This elimination did not come out of nowhere. Mali scraped through the group stage with three draws, 0-0 against Comoros, and 1-1 stalemates with Morocco and Zambia. They needed penalties to edge Tunisia in the round of 16 after another draw in regulation time. Luck had been riding alongside them for a while, but eventually, it ran out.
Senegal, on the other hand, look like a team built for the business end of the tournament. Even without being ruthless in front of goal, they controlled tempo, defended intelligently and showed the calm of champions when the pressure rose.
With Senegal beating Mali to reach AFCON semi-finals now confirmed, belief will be growing in the Teranga camp. They have depth, experience and big-game players who know how to get over the line. If they sharpen their finishing, they will be a serious threat to anyone left standing.
For Mali, the journey ends with heads held high. For Senegal, the dream is very much alive, and they look ready to go all the way again.
Leave a Reply