Ndiaye Pounces on Mali Blunder to Propel Senegal into AFCON Semi-Finals

Iliman Ndiaye was the hero for Senegal on Friday night, when he pounced on a goalkeeping error from a yard to fire the Teranga Lions  into the semi-finals of AFCON 2025.

The Everton forward’s 27th-minute strike proved to be the difference in a difficult 1-0 victory over a 10-man Mali side, keeping Senegal’s dream of a second title alive.

The match-winning moment arrived following a period of sustained Senegalese pressure. Krépin Diatta whipped a low, seemingly routine cross into the box that should have been easily gathered by Djigui Diarra. However, the Malian goalkeeper suffered a catastrophic lapse in concentration, allowing the ball to slip beneath his body. Ndiaye, showing sharp predatory instincts, was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the blunder, reacting quickest to poke the ball into an empty net from point-blank range.

Despite his earlier mistake, Diarra spent much of the remainder of the game as Mali’s standout performer. He produced a series of acrobatic saves to keep his side in the contest, most notably tipping a thunderous Lamine Camara volley onto the post during the final minutes of stoppage time. His heroics, however, were overshadowed by the dismissal of captain Yves Bissouma just before the halftime whistle.

Bissouma’s exit followed a chaotic end to the first period. Having already received a yellow card in the 25th minute for a cynical pull on Sadio Mané, the Tottenham midfielder mistimed a lunging challenge on Idrissa Gana Gueye in the second minute of added time. The referee had little choice but to issue a second yellow, followed by a red, leaving Mali to play the entire second half with ten men. This dismissal marked a  frustrating trend for Mali, as it was the third consecutive match at this AFCON in which they had a player sent off.

Even with a numerical disadvantage, Mali refused to collapse. They nearly found an equalizer in the 55th minute when Abdoulaye Diaby broke free in the box, but Edouard Mendy produced a sharp reflex save to preserve Senegal’s clean sheet.

Senegal utilized their extra man to control the tempo of the second half, opting for a tactical approach that prioritized ball retention over risky attacking forays. While the Teranga Lions were unable to add a second goal, their defensive solidity ensured they moved one step closer to defending their continental crown.