January 09, (THEWILL) — Senegal advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Mali in a match that saw the opponents reduced to 10 men. Iliman Ndiaye scored the only goal of the contest in the 27th minute, converting from close range after initiating the attacking move himself.
The Everton forward’s finish came during a period of heavy pressure from Pape Bouna Thiaw’s side, who recorded 19 shots throughout the match. Despite this dominance, Senegal failed to capitalise on further opportunities. Pathe Ciss missed a clear one-on-one chance in the 76th minute, shooting directly at Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, whilst Lamine Camara forced a fine save with a volley that struck the post.
Mali’s task grew considerably harder just before the interval when captain Yves Bissouma received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge. The Tottenham midfielder’s dismissal left his team to play the entire second half with 10 players.
Senegal, regarded among the tournament favourites, now await the winner of the quarter-final between Egypt and defending champions Ivory Coast. That match will determine their opponents in the semi-final round.
The victory continues Senegal’s progress in the competition, though their inability to convert numerous chances may concern manager Thiaw ahead of the next stage. Mali’s campaign ends despite a determined defensive effort following Bissouma’s sending off.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
