By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Sets up Semifinal against Winner of Egypt versus Ivory Coast Match on January 14 at 6.00pm.
THE TERANGA Lions Senegal on Friday at the Grand Stade de Tangier in Morocco stamped their supremacy on fellow West African Nation Eagles of Mali beating the ten men team by a lone goal.
Everton forward 27-year-old Llimah Ndiaye calmed down receiving a ball that bounced of a Malian defender and shot it into the middle of the net in the 27th minute to send home the Malians. Cover photo is Ndiaye who was declared MAN OF THE MATCH in this encounter.
Tottenham Hotspur Midfielder, Yves Bissouma had collected a yellow in the 23rd minute and another yellow for foul play in the 45+3 minute to qualifier for a red card that reduced the Malian to 10 men and was the source of their loss.
Bissouma had gotten a yellow against Tunisia at the group stages but this red card to Mali was the second one in the tournament as Haidama got one against Comoros.
Football pundits had expected a Senegalese win based on the performance so far in the tournament but even the stats showed that Senegal was well prepared for the match.
Senegal had 18-6 shot at goal, 9-1 on target with a 65-35% ball possession showing the Lions controlled the match.
The Lions knowing that Mali plays robust physical game came more rough than them with 15-7 foul calls and 5-2 yellow cards and 7-5 corner kicks advantage thank God for Goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, a MAN OF THE MATCH awardee in their last match who jumped and flew like a cat reminding us of Henry Carr of Ghana who was fantastic for Alyufsalam FC of Ilorin in Nigeria and Ghana Black Stars.
Senegal goes into their 4th semifinal in 18 appearances scheduled to face the winner of the explosive Pharaohs of Egypt versus Elephants of Ivory Coast in the semifinal on Wednesday, but the match takes place tomorrow at 8.00pm.
Senegal had a good record getting to the quarterfinal stage scoring 10 goals conceding 2 with 2 clean slates (not conceding any goal in two matches of the four played).
She drubbed Botswana 3-0; played 1-1 draw with DR Congo; and again slammed Benin 3-0 at the group stages before stopping Sudan 3-1 in the round of 16 games.
Mali has been low scoring team with 3 goals before now conceding 3 goals also but had one clean slate for she played 1-1 with Zambia: another 1-1 with Morocco and goalless with Comoros at the group stages before halting Tunisia via penalty in a war of the Eagles winning 3-2 after 1-1 at full time at the round of 16 matches
Former champions Senegal and Mali met 7 times with Senegal winning five matches and drawing two and scoring 13 goals in the 18 goals scored in their meetings. Nevertheless, the highest goals scored in a match were the 3-2 win of Senegal in a friendly encounter of 17th November 2007.
The Eagles of Mali ranked 53 in the world appearing at AFCON finals 14 times never won a title; were Silver Medalist in 1972; won bronze twice in 2012 and 2013 but got the 4th podium in both 2002 and 2004.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal ranked 19 is in their 18th appearances and got their only title at Cameroon 2021. Senegal finished 4th position twice in 1965 and 2006.
Later tonight at 8.00pm The Lions of Cameroon will trade tackles with hosts Lions of Morocco at the Abdellah Stadium in Rabat in a Lions duel.
Tomorrow Saturday, at 5.00pm the much-anticipated encounter between The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Desert Warriors of Algeria will be played in Marrakesh while the 4th quarterfinal between the highest decorated team with seven titles, Pharaohs of Egypt and Elephants of Ivory Coast will take place at Agadir at 8pm.
The Semifinal schedule is as follows:
First Semifinal is Senegal vs Egypt/Ivory Coast at Tangier on Wednesday 14th January at 6.00pm.
Second semifinal is Cameroon/Morocco vs Algeria/Nigeria at Abdellah, Morocco at 9.00pm.
#AFCON25 #CAF #FRMF #FMF #SAFA
#FEBEFOOT #TFF#FECAFOOT #SFA
#FAFA #EFA #NFF.
