If some eagles sometimes manage to chase lion cubs, those of Mali have not managed to lure into their trap Lions of Teranga who are too experienced to allow themselves to be devoured. By eliminating Mali this Friday in the quarter-finals of CAN 2025 (1-0), the Senegalese managed to extricate themselves from a difficult match against a team with a very restrictive game plan but which had proven its effectiveness during the previous rounds – Mali had held off Morocco in the group stage (1-1) before eliminating Tunisia on penalties (1-1, 3 penalties to 2).
Beyond their offensive potential which no longer needs to be demonstrated, Pape Thiaw’s players were first able to respond this Friday to the athletic challenge posed by the Malians, by overcoming the opposing pressure thanks to superior technical quality.
One action sums up this fight won by the Senegalese: in the duel with Yves Bissouma in the midfield, the Senegalese number 10 Sadio Mané erased that of Mali with a subtle little bridge before being mowed down by the Tottenham defensive midfielder (23rd). The latter will be punished with a yellow card for his tackle, before being excluded for having repeated the offense against Pape Gueye in added time of the first period (45th + 3).
The grumpy expression displayed by Bissouma as he left the pitch symbolizes the frustration of Tom Saintfiet’s players, who had been logically punished by Illiman Ndiaye’s opener, the latter having taken advantage of a hand fault from Djigui Diarra on a cross from Crépin Diatta coming from the right side (27th).
Ndiaye as a dynamiter
It was thanks to the liveliness of his wings that the Senegalese managed to take flight, like a twirling Everton striker. Named man of the match, Ndiaye would have deserved to be credited with an assist on a back pass for Sadio Mané after an overflow on the right side which brought Amadou Haïdara to the ground (45th + 6).
His elusive dribbles made the aisles of an Ibn Batouta stadium stand up, far from being full (32,385 spectators out of 75,500 seats) but where the group of supporters of the Twelfth Gaindé (“Lion” in Wolof), dressed in the colors of the Senegalese flag, will have fully played their role as dancing entertainers throughout the match.
And once success was in sight, Pape Thiaw was able to give his starters a breather without losing quality on the pitch. If Ibrahim Mbaye was less sharp than in his last two appearances (a penalty against Benin, a goal against Sudan), Pathé Ciss was twice very close to doubling the lead with a powerful header (67th) then a face-to-face with Diarra (76th) finally won by a Malian goalkeeper, saved by his post on a volley from the right foot of the other entrant Lamine Camara (90th + 2).
The depth of Senegal’s bench could make the difference in the next round, against an Ivory Coast very dependent on its duo Yan Diomandé – Amad Diallo or an Egypt which has already played 120 minutes during its victory against Benin in the round of 16 (3-1 in overtime). A possible confrontation against the Pharaohs would bring back good memories for the Lions of Téranga, who won their only CAN by beating Mohammed Salah’s teammates on penalties in the final in 2021 (0-0, 4 shots on goal to 2).
“People say we are favorites”
There is no doubt that the Senegalese believe more than ever in their chances of lifting the trophy once again on January 18, after this solid, if not spectacular, performance. “Today we win, perhaps not with style, but with the three points,” summarized Pape Gueye after the match.
His team thus confirms its status as a contender for final victory. “People say we are favorites. You have to be ambitious,” said AS Monaco full-back Krépin Diatta, believing that Senegal has “a good team” to compete with the Blues at the North American World Cup next summer.
