Senegal squeeze past Mali to reach AFCON semifinals
Senegal are back in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, and they’ve done it the hard way. In a tense quarterfinal that had plenty of drama, the reigning champions edged past Mali with a narrow one-nil win, a result that’s now dominating football conversations across Africa and beyond.
What decided this game was a single moment in the first half. Senegal pressed high, forced a mistake in the Mali defense, and the ball fell kindly in the box. Iliman Ndiaye reacted fastest, turning a loose situation into the only goal of the night. From that point on, the match settled into a battle of control, discipline, and nerves.
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The turning point came even earlier, though, when Mali were reduced to ten men before halftime. Captain Yves Bissouma picked up a second yellow card, leaving his side shorthanded for the entire second half. That dismissal completely changed the rhythm of the game. Mali had started brightly, matching Senegal’s intensity, but once they went down a player, survival became the priority.
To understand why this result matters so much, it helps to look at the bigger picture. Senegal arrived at this tournament as the team to beat, winners of the 2021 Africa Cup and packed with experience. Players like Sadio Mané and Idrissa Gueye have been here before, and expectations were sky-high. Mali, on the other hand, have built a reputation as dangerous outsiders, talented but often undone by discipline and fine margins in knockout matches.
That’s a big reason this game is trending right now. Mali’s red card continues a pattern that fans and analysts are openly debating, with the team seeing players sent off in multiple matches during this tournament. At the same time, Senegal’s ability to manage games, even without adding a second goal, is being praised as a sign of champions who know how to win when it matters most.
The consequences of this result are significant. Senegal move one step closer to defending their title and now wait for a heavyweight semifinal against either Ivory Coast or Egypt. Momentum is firmly on their side. For Mali, it’s another painful exit, and serious questions are likely to be asked about discipline and game management at the highest level.
As the tournament heads toward its final stages, Senegal remain calm, efficient, and very much alive in the title race. One goal was enough this time, and in knockout football, that’s all that counts.
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