Mali defeated
©IMAGO
This article was first published on January 9 at 7:32 p.m. and was adjusted after the second game.
Even without Bayern striker Nicolas Jackson, Senegal reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. During the first quarter-final of the tournament, the 2022 title holder won 1-0 (1-0) against Mali. Iliman Ndiaye of English Premier League (Site notre bureau spécialisé) team Everton FC scored the winning goal in Tangier, Morocco in the 27th minute. He benefited from an error by goalkeeper Djigui Diarra. Lamine Camara missed a clearer success, failing to hit the post in the final phase. Jackson remained on the bench for more than 90 minutes, former Munich player Sadio Mané played until the end.
As in the two previous matches, Mali was expelled during the duel with Senegal. Captain Yves Bissouma received a yellow-red card shortly before the break after repeated foul play. Furthermore, former Leipzig player Amadou Haidara had to leave the field injured (55th). These setbacks could not be compensated for. In the semi-final, Senegal, which is the most valuable team after Morocco with a squad value of 406 million euros, will face the winner of the match between Egypt and Ivory Coast, which will be played on Saturday evening.
Morocco follows Senegal in semi-final
Hosts Morocco qualified for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations to the applause of their home fans. Coach Walid Regragui’s team won comfortably 2-0 (1-0) against Cameroon in Rabat. Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz scored the lead for the fourth-placed team in the 2022 World Cup in the 27th minute. Ismael Saibari completed the victory with his goal in the 75th minute.
For Díaz it was already the fifth goal of the fifth game. After a header from Ayoub El Kaabi, the Real striker sent the ball into the goal with his thigh. The Cameroonian team led by Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane did not enter the match at all in the first 45 minutes and hardly created any scoring chances. The Moroccans around PSG star and ex-Dortmunder Achraf Hakimi were also the dominant team in the second half. Abde Ezzalzouli (61st) and Saibari (62nd) narrowly failed. A quarter of an hour before the end of the match, Saibari scored the famous goal to make the final score 2–0.