Senegal defeated 10-man Mali 1–0 to turn into the primary crew to advance to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half aim was the decider for the Teranga Lions in a tense West African derby on the Tangier Grand Stadium on Friday night.
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The breakthrough got here halfway by means of the primary half when the Everton ahead struck from shut vary after Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra didn’t correctly collect Krépin Diatta’s low cross from the correct.
Diarra later tipped a shot from El Hadji Malick Diouf onto the crossbar in first-half stoppage time, moments earlier than Mali captain and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma was despatched off for a second bookable offence, leaving the Eagles to play the whole second half with 10 males.
Regardless of their numerical drawback, Mali pushed for an equalizer, however Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy denied Abdoulaye Diaby within the second half, whereas Diarra responded with saves from Sadio Mané and Pathé Ciss to maintain Mali in competition.
Mali exit the AFCON 2025 with no single win, with ill-discipline as soon as once more proving expensive, having seen a participant despatched off in every of their final three matches in Morocco.
Senegal will know their semi-final opponent on Saturday when document seven-time champions Egypt face holders Ivory Coast in Agadir.
