U-17 AFCON: Angola hold Mali to a goalless draw in Group C clash

Angola national under-17 football team produced a disciplined defensive display to earn a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Mali national under-17 football team in their opening Group C fixture at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 on Thursday.

The encounter, played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, saw Mali dominate large portions of the game, but Angola’s organised defending and inspired goalkeeping proved decisive.

Gelson Dala Stars For Angola

Angola goalkeeper Gelson Dala delivered a series of outstanding saves throughout the match to deny the Malians and preserve a valuable clean sheet for his side.

His impressive performance earned him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award after repeatedly frustrating Mali’s attacking players with crucial interventions.

The Southern Africans remained compact defensively and showed strong discipline despite facing sustained pressure for much of the contest.

Mali Unable To Break Through

Mali, finalists in the previous edition of the tournament, started the match brightly and controlled possession with their quick passing and attacking movement.

The West African side continued to create dangerous opportunities after the break as they searched for an opening goal, but poor finishing combined with Angola’s defensive resilience kept the scoreline level.

Although Angola saw less of the ball, they gradually gained confidence and occasionally threatened on counterattacks, even if clear scoring opportunities remained limited.

Group C Race Remains Open

Despite Mali’s dominance in possession and territory, Angola successfully held firm to secure an important point in what is expected to be a highly competitive Group C campaign.

The result leaves both nations with one point ahead of their upcoming group matches as the battle for quarter-final qualification and FIFA U-17 World Cup spots continues in Morocco.