FIFA Under-17 World Cup: Mali make it to the semifinals, defeat Ghana 2-1

Mali made it to the semifinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup as they defeated Ghana 2-1 in the first quarterfinal at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. Mali will meet either Iran or Spain on Wednesday in Navi Mumbai.

Both sides did well to play through the wet conditions, with Mali dominating to opening half. The Eaglets took the lead on the quarter-hour mark with Hadji Drame slotting past Black Starlets goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim for his third goal of the tournament.

Ghana then had the ball in the opposite net just before half-time, but Ibrahim Sulley’s effort was disallowed for a foul by team-mate Kudus Mohammed in the build-up. 

Mali doubled the lead just after the hour mark, through Djemoussa Traore. He beat the back-tracking Danlad Ibrahim with a long-range effort after the Ghana goalkeeper misjudged his rush off his goalline to make an attempted clearance outside his box.

Ghana halved the deficit through a Mohammed penalty after substitute Sadiq Ibrahim was fouled in the Mali box with 20 minutes to go. 

However, Mali held on to secure a second appearance in the last four at a U-17 World Cup in as many tournaments.