Senegal survive red card and late Mali equaliser to reach U-17 AFCON semi-finals

Senegal reached the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 after beating Mali 4-2 on penalties following a dramatic quarter-final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex on Sunday.

The Young Lions of Teranga had looked on course for victory after taking a first-half lead, but Mali equalised in stoppage time to force the match into a shootout.

Senegal held their nerve from the spot, with goalkeeper Assane Sarr making the decisive save from Aboubacar Maïga to send the defending champions into the last four.

They will now face hosts Morocco in the semi-finals after the Atlas Cubs beat Cameroon 1-0 in the other quarter-final.

Senegal made a bright start and almost went ahead in the seventh minute when Mouhamed Wagne was denied by Mali goalkeeper Diarra.

Their early pressure was rewarded after Cheikh Oumar Sy was brought down in the penalty area. After a VAR review, the referee awarded Senegal a penalty, which Souleymane Commissaire Faye converted in the 17th minute.

Mali tried to respond, but Senegal looked organised and dangerous in transition during the opening half.

The match changed in the 33rd minute when Cheikh Thior was sent off after another VAR review for a foul as the last defender.

Reduced to 10 men, Senegal had to defend for long spells as Mali pushed forward after the break.

Mali appealed for a penalty in the 51st minute after a possible handball in the Senegalese area, but the referee stuck with his original decision following a VAR check.

Senegal still threatened on the counter and Maguette Niang came close to doubling the lead in the 64th minute.

Sarr then produced an important save three minutes later to keep Senegal ahead.

Mali thought they had levelled in the 73rd minute through Abdoulaye Touré, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Their pressure finally told in stoppage time when Djigui Koïta scored the equaliser to make it 1-1 and send the tie to penalties.

Senegal scored through Cheikh Dieng, Emile Niaga Sadio and Ibrahima Sow, and although Amdoulaye Bamba Kane missed, Sarr’s save from Maïga proved decisive.

The result keeps Senegal’s title defence alive and sets up a heavyweight semi-final against Morocco on Thursday.