Iliman Ndiaye of Senegal celebrates goal during 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter Final match between Mali and Senegal on the 09 January 2026 at Grand Stadium Tangier in Tangier ©Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Friday Jan 09, 2026. 19:47
Senegal defeated 10-man Mali 1-0 at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Friday evening to become the first team to advance into the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Teranga Lions won the closely-fought tie thanks to a first-half strike from Iliman Ndiaye, while the Eagles’ hopes of a comeback were compromised by a sending off for talismanic midfielder Yves Bissouma in injury time before the interval.
The teams cancelled each other out in the first quarter of the match, with Mali having the first notable effort on 24 minutes, as Nathan Gassama’s piledriver shot was bravely blocked by the Senegal defence.
The Teranga Lions then claimed the lead just three minutes later, with Iliman Ndiaye latching onto a rebound in the Mali penalty area before firing home a low shot for 1-0.
Pape Gueye nearly doubled the advantage just past the half-hour mark, but his effort flashed wide of the mark, while injury time saw El Hadji Malick Diouf spurn a great chance inside the Mali box.
The Eagles were then reduced to 10 men just before the half-time break when Yves Bissouma picked up his second yellow card and was sent off.
Senegal, with a numerical advantage, controlled the second half for the most part, though Mali nearly levelled the game on 57 minutes via Abdoulaye Diaby, but Edouard Mendy made a magnificent save to keep his side ahead.
That was to be the Eagles’ only real chance of getting back in the game, with Senegal missing out on chances to kill off the game via Sadio Mane and Pathe Ciss, but ultimately they were able to see out the match and claim a deserved victory.
Senegal will face either Egypt or Ivory Coast (who meet in Agadir on Saturday night) in the first semifinal, set for Tangier on Wednesday 14 January.
Mali 0
Senegal (1) 1 (I. Ndiaye 27’)
Mali: D. Diarra, H. Traore, O. Camara, A. Diaby, N. Gassama, L. Coulibaly (M. Doumbia 82’), A. Dieng (G. Diakite 69’), Y. Bissouma, A. Haidara (D. Nene 55’), L. Sinayoko (E.B. Toure 82’), M. Sangare (K. Doumbia 82’)
Senegal: E. Mendy, K. Diatta, K. Koulibaly, M. Niakhate, M. Diouf, H. Diarra (P. Ciss 62’), I. Gueye, P. Gueye (L. Camara 62’), I. Ndiaye (I. Mbaye 75’), H, Diallo (C. Ndiaye 75’), S. Mane