Mali edge Cape Verde in five-goal WAFCON Thriller
Mali revived their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a tense 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in a dramatic Group D match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday night.
Oumou Kone gave Mali the lead in the first half before Eve Pereira equalised for Cape Verde, who were looking for their first points at the tournament.
Fatoumata Niakate restored Mali’s advantage early in the second half, before Fatoumata Diarra scored what proved to be the decisive third goal in the 79th minute.
Cape Verde refused to give up and pulled one back through Alivia Kelly in the 88th minute, but Mali held on to claim three vital points.
The result moves Mali level with Ghana on three points after Cameroon had earlier beaten the Black Queens 1-0 to move top of Group D with six points.
Cape Verde remain bottom without a point, but their performance showed character in a match they pushed until the final whistle.
Mali strike first in must-win contest
Both teams entered the match under pressure after opening defeats.
Mali had lost 2-1 to Cameroon, while Cape Verde began their first ever TotalEnergies WAFCON campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Ghana.
That made the meeting a do-or-die fixture for both sides, especially after the two teams had already met in qualification for this edition.
Cape Verde had beaten Mali 4-3 on aggregate in qualifying to reach their first continental finals, but Mali arrived in Morocco through the expanded tournament format.
This time, Mali found the first breakthrough.
In the 29th minute, Aissata Traore created the opening for Kone, who finished to put the Lady Eagles 1-0 ahead.
It was an important moment for Mali, who needed a positive response after their opening loss.
Cape Verde respond before break
Cape Verde had gone five matches without scoring before this fixture, but they ended that run in the 36th minute.
Pereira found the net to make it 1-1 and give the debutants renewed belief.
The goal was significant for Cape Verde, not only because it brought them level, but because it was their first goal at the TotalEnergies WAFCON finals.
The island nation had come into the tournament hoping to build on the momentum of their historic qualification campaign, and Pereira’s equaliser gave them a platform to compete.
The first half ended level, with both teams still firmly in the contest.
Niakate and Diarra restore Mali control
Mali started the second half strongly and regained the lead in the 50th minute.
Traore was again involved, providing her second assist of the match as Niakate scored to make it 2-1.
The goal gave Mali greater confidence, but Cape Verde continued to fight and remained dangerous enough to keep the match open.
With just over 10 minutes left, Mali found the goal that appeared to settle the game.
Orokia Sissoko set up Diarra, who scored in the 79th minute to put Mali 3-1 ahead.
That third goal gave Mali breathing space and showed the attacking improvement they had spoken about before the match.
Cape Verde push to the end
Cape Verde still refused to accept defeat.
In the 88th minute, Natasha Whanon provided the assist for Kelly, who scored to make it 3-2 and set up a tense finish.
The late goal gave Cape Verde hope of snatching a point, but Mali managed the final minutes well enough to protect their lead.
There were substitutions and stoppages in the closing stages as both teams tried to influence the outcome, but Mali held firm until the final whistle.
Group D remains open
The victory keeps Mali’s quarter-final hopes alive after a difficult start to the tournament.
Cameroon lead Group D with six points, while Ghana and Mali both have three points. Cape Verde remain on zero points after two matches.
For Mali, the win was essential. It prevents them from falling out of contention and gives them momentum before their final group match.
For Cape Verde, the defeat is painful, but there were positives in the way they scored twice and pushed Mali to the end.
