Senegal has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) after defeating 10-man Mali 1-0 in the quarter-finals. The decisive goal came in the first half, courtesy of Iliman Ndiaye’s tap-in from five yards out. The Everton forward capitalized on a mistake by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who failed to gather Krepin Diatta’s low cross from the right.
The match took a significant turn when Mali captain Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second bookable offense in first-half stoppage time. Prior to the red card, Diarra had made a crucial save, tipping El Hadji Malick Diouf’s shot onto the bar. The Eagles’ disciplinary issues continued to plague them, as they exited the tournament without a win and had a player sent off 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 their efforts, Mali struggled to create scoring opportunities and were unable to level the score. The Eagles’ keeper, Diarra, made several key saves, including diverting Lassine Camara’s dipping volley onto the post in added time.
Senegal will face either Egypt or Ivory Coast in the semi-finals, with the two teams set to meet on Saturday. The Teranga Lions had previously eased past Sudan in the last-16 round, while Mali required a late equalizer and penalties to advance past Tunisia. The Eagles’ exit marks the second consecutive tournament in which they have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
Mali’s campaign was marred by disciplinary issues, with the team receiving three red cards in as many games. In contrast, Senegal will look to build on their momentum, having navigated the quarter-finals without major incident. The semi-final match promises to be a closely contested encounter, with Senegal seeking to advance to the final and claim their second Afcon title.
