Mali sink Guinea to reach final

Mali celebrate

Mali edged out a determined Guinea team 2-1 in the semifinal of the CAF U17 Championship at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niger on Thursday.

Mali broke the deadlock in the 24th minute as Seydou Koita shrugged off his marker and immaculately chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Moussa Camara.

Guinea began the second half like a house on fire and it came as no surprise when Aboubacar Toure found the equaliser in the 50th minute.

Guinea’s excitement lasted for just two minutes as Ally Malle restored Mali’s lead straight from a well-taken free kick that beat the goalkeeper hands down in the 52nd minute.

The Malians will now face South Africa’s Amajimbos, who eliminated Nigeria in the first semifinal on Wednesday. The match is pencilled in for Sunday.

Guinea will play Nigeria in the third-place playoff also set for Sunday at the Stade General Seyni Kountche.

Super Sports