Senegal booked their place in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Mali 1–0 in a tightly contested quarterfinal clash on Friday at the Grand Stadium of Tangier.
The decisive moment of the encounter came in the 27th minute when Iliman Ndiaye found the back of the net, capitalising on Senegal’s early dominance.
The goal proved enough for the defending champions, who managed the game efficiently despite sustained pressure from their West African neighbours.
Senegal had reached the quarterfinal stage in impressive fashion, recording a 3–1 victory over Sudan in the Round of 16.
Their journey through the tournament has been marked by consistency, having finished top of Group D with seven points from two wins and a draw, scoring seven goals and conceding just once.
Mali, on the other hand, arrived at the quarterfinals after a dramatic Round of 16 encounter against Tunisia. The match ended 1–1 after regulation time, before the Eagles of Mali held their nerve to secure a 3–2 win in the penalty shootout.
Despite their spirited display against Senegal, Mali’s AFCON campaign came to an end in Tangier.
They had finished second in Group A behind hosts Morocco, collecting three points from three draws, and will now turn their attention to rebuilding ahead of future continental competitions.
