Mali booked their place in the U17 World Cup round of 16 after a 3–1 victory over Zambia on Friday, November 14, 2025.
The result came after a disciplined first half and a ruthless second-half display from the West African side.
Both teams approached the opening period with caution, and neither attack found the precision needed to shift the balance.
The battle in midfield remained tight, and clear opportunities stayed rare as the match progressed toward the break without a breakthrough.
Mali returned from halftime with more intent and struck first in the 51st minute.
N’Djicoura Bomba met a well-weighted cross from Seydou Dembélé and guided the ball into the net to open the scoring.
Zambia responded with urgency and increased the tempo of their counter-attacks.
Their effort paid off in the 63rd minute when Mapolo Simute finished a swift transition to level the match.
Mali reacted immediately. Just two minutes after the equaliser, Ballo threatened with a dangerous header, although the effort missed the target.
The Malian bench then introduced Soumaïla Fané in the 80th minute to bring fresh energy to the attack.
The substitution sparked renewed momentum. Five minutes later, Dembélé recovered possession high up the pitch and struck powerfully to restore Mali’s lead.
The goal ignited the team, and they pushed forward again as the Zambian defence struggled to keep control.
Fané then produced a decisive contribution. He slipped an ideal pass to Lamine Keïta, who finished confidently to extend the scoreline to 3–1 and secure Mali’s progression.
The final whistle confirmed Mali’s place in the round of 16, rewarding a confident second-half performance and keeping their World Cup ambitions firmly alive.
