By OUR MAN IN MOROCCO
ILIMAN NDIAYE was the hero in the heat of Tangier as Senegal marched into the AFCON semi-finals with a gritty 1-0 win over ten-man Mali.
The Lions of Teranga made the Stade Ibn Batouta their personal fortress, securing their spot in the final four in front of a raucous 65,000-capacity crowd at the stunning coastal venue.
While the football was often as fiery as the Moroccan sun, it was a horror show from Mali keeper Djigui Diarra that gifted Senegal the only goal they needed.
TANGIER TEARS
In the 27th minute, Diarra—usually the Eagles’ safe pair of hands—suffered a total lapse in concentration.
His attempted distribution was intercepted by a predator-like Ndiaye, who made no mistake in slotting home to send the traveling Senegalese fans into a frenzy.
The venue, a gleaming bowl on the edge of the Mediterranean, became a pressure cooker for Mali just before the break.
Captain Yves Bissouma, already on a tightrope, saw red after picking up a second yellow card in first-half stoppage time. It left the Eagles with a mountain to climb in the second half under the Tangier floodlights.
Mali refused to lie down, and to his credit, Diarra redeemed himself with a string of world-class saves to deny Sadio Mane and Pathé Ciss from doubling the lead.
But with the numerical advantage and the Tangier wind at their backs, Senegal’s defense—anchored by Kalidou Koulibaly—remained an impenetrable wall.
The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation at the Grande Stade de Tanger, as Senegal became the first team to punch their ticket to the semis.
For Mali, it was a case of what might have been as they head home, leaving the Lions to roar on in Morocco.
