Senegal secured a place in the semi‑finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1‑0 victory over a 10‑man Mali side in the quarter‑finals. The decisive goal came in the first half when Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye tapped in from five yards after Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra failed to collect Krepin Diatta’s low cross from the right.
Mali’s captain Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second bookable offence in first‑half stoppage time, a turning point that compounded the team’s woes. Earlier, Diarra had produced a crucial save, tipping El Hadji Malick Diouf’s shot onto the bar. Senegal’s disciplinary problems persisted, as they exited the tournament without a win and suffered a red card for the third consecutive game.
In the second half, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy denied Abdoulaye Diaby, while Diarra made notable saves from Sadio Mane and Pathe Ciss. Despite these efforts, Mali struggled to create chances and could not equalise. Diarra also diverted Lassine Camara’s dipping volley onto the post in added time.
Senegal will now face either Egypt or Ivory Coast in the semi‑finals, with those two teams set to meet on Saturday. The Teranga Lions had previously eased past Sudan in the last‑16, while Mali needed a late equaliser and penalties to overcome Tunisia. This quarter‑final loss marks Senegal’s second consecutive tournament exit at this stage. Mali’s campaign was plagued by discipline, accumulating three red cards in as many games. In contrast, Senegal advanced without major incident and will look to build on their momentum, aiming to reach the final and claim their second Afcon title.
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