Recalled striker Iliman Ndiaye scored in the first half to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over 10-man Mali in Tangiers on Friday in the first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.
Mali’s hopes were dealt a severe blow in first-half added time when captain Yves Bissouma was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.
The only goal followed a blunder by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who later made a string of superb saves to prevent Senegal from increasing their lead.
Senegal will now face defending champions Ivory Coast or record seven-time winners Egypt, who meet on Saturday, in the semi-finals.
Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko appealed for a penalty just three minutes into the match, alleging he was fouled by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who returned after a one-match suspension. However, the referee waved play on and VAR confirmed the decision, with replays showing Sinayoko was guilty of simulation.
Bissouma was booked midway through the half for fouling veteran striker Sadio Mane, before Sinayoko broke clear only to be denied by a superb sliding tackle from Krepin Diatta.
The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes on a cold, cloudy evening in Tangiers. Ndiaye was involved throughout the move that led to the goal, as Diarra allowed a Krepin Diatta cross to slip under his body, leaving Ndiaye to fire the loose ball into the net.
Although the goal came as a gift, Senegal deserved the lead after dominating possession in just the second AFCON meeting between the sides, the first having ended in a draw at the 2004 group stage.
Pape Gueye, who scored twice in the last-16 win over Sudan, went close with a long-range effort before Mali were reduced to 10 men again in a knockout match. Bissouma was dismissed for a foul on Idrissa Gueye in midfield, with VAR declining to review the decision.
As they had done against Tunisia in the round of 16, Mali showed remarkable spirit despite being a man down. They came close to equalising on 55 minutes when Abdoulaye Diaby’s close-range effort from a free-kick was brilliantly saved by former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Diarra redeemed himself for his earlier mistake with a series of outstanding saves to keep Mali in contention for a first AFCON title. With 15 minutes remaining, Ndiaye was replaced by 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye.
The Malian goalkeeper continued to deny Senegal late on, blocking efforts from Pathe Ciss and Lamine Camara during seven minutes of added time, but Senegal held firm to book their place in the semi-finals.
