BREAKING: Ndiaye’s First-Half Goal Sends Senegal Into AFCON Semifinals
January 9, 2026
274d agoSenegal booked their place in the AFCON semi-finals with a narrow but vital 1–0 victory over Mali in Tangier. In a tightly contested West African derby, it was Iliman Ndiaye who made the difference, capitalizing on a rare mistake by Mali’s goalkeeper in the 27th minute to slot home the game’s only goal. Senegal controlled phases of the first half and took a deserved lead before the interval.
The contest was physical and tactical from the outset, with both teams jostling for midfield dominance. Mali, known for their resilience in this tournament despite not winning in open play in their earlier matches, held firm early but couldn’t carve out many clear chances. The breakthrough came when Djigui Diarra’s miscontrolled distribution let Ndiaye in, and the Senegal forward made no mistake from close range.
Just before halftime, the match took a pivotal turn when Mali captain Yves Bissouma was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, leaving the Eagles of Mali to play the entire second half with ten men. The dismissal shifted the momentum further toward Senegal, who then managed the game with more control and possession in the second period.
In the second half, Senegal pressed for a second goal but were met with stout defensive work and some important saves by Mali’s goalkeeper. Despite being down to ten men, Mali showed fight and made life difficult for the Lions of Teranga, but they could not find the cutting edge needed to equalize. Senegal’s defence stood firm, and the 1–0 scoreline held until the final whistle.
The victory sends Senegal into the AFCON 2025 semifinals, continuing their strong run in the tournament and keeping alive their hopes of lifting the title. Their next opponents will be either Egypt or Ivory Coast, who face off in the remaining quarter-final tie. Mali’s tournament ends here, but they can take pride in their competitive display despite the fine margins that decided this match.
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