Senegal booked a place in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Mali 1–0 in a tense quarterfinal clash in Morocco on Friday.
The decisive moment came in the 27th minute when Iliman Ndiaye calmly finished off a fine assist from Habib Diallo.
Mali’s hopes suffered a major blow shortly after as midfielder Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Mali pressed hard for an equaliser, forcing Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy into several crucial saves. Abdoulaye Diaby and Gaoussou Diakite both came close, but Senegal’s defence remained disciplined.
Sadio Mané nearly doubled Senegal’s lead late in the game, only to be denied by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra. In the closing minutes, Mali pushed numbers forward, but Senegal held firm to seal victory.
The reigning African champions will now face the winner of the quarterfinal between Egypt and Ivory Coast.
