Mali faced off against Morocco in a thrilling quarter-final clash at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™, and it was a late goal by Ibrahim Diarra that secured Mali’s victory, setting the stage for a semi-final showdown with France.
In a game filled with intensity and disrupted by injuries, Mali dominated the first period, creating scoring opportunities. The breakthrough nearly came early when Hamidou Makalou’s shot inside the box was expertly saved by Morocco’s goalkeeper, Taha Benrhozil.
Despite Mali’s efforts, the first half remained goalless, with Diarra’s goal-bound attempt cleared by Saifdine Chlaghmo.
The suspense continued into the 81st minute when Ibrahim Kanate’s dynamic run into the area resulted in a deflected shot hitting the post. seizing the opportunity, Diarra capitalized on the rebound, giving Mali a well-deserved lead.
With this victory, Mali advance to the semi-finals, where they will face France on Tuesday. The player of the match, Hamidou Makalou, played a crucial role in Mali’s performance, contributing to their overall dominance in the quarter-final clash.
In a nail-biting moment, Morocco attempted a late equalizer, with Ayman Ennair flicking a corner to the back post. However, Adam Boufandar’s attempt from six yards out was unsuccessful, securing Mali’s 1-0 triumph and a step closer to U-17 World Cup glory.
