Mali booked their place in the final of the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a 2-0 semi-final win over Burkina Faso in Casablanca, courtesy of goals from Soumaila Fané and Mahamadou Traoré. The West Africans displayed tactical discipline and defensive solidity, holding off a determined Burkina Faso side that ended the match with nine men following two red cards.
Mali will now face hosts Morocco in Saturday’s final, as the tournament reaches its climax.
Morocco advanced after edging Côte d’Ivoire 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in a tightly contested semi-final. Both sides showed strong defensive organization and counter-attacking intent but were let down by poor finishing. Backed by a passionate home crowd, Morocco held their nerve in the shoot-out to secure their spot in the championship match.
Meanwhile, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso will meet in the third-place playoff, also scheduled for Saturday, as both teams aim to finish their campaigns on a high.
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