Mali Shine in U17 AFCON Opener with Convincing Win over Cameroon
Mali kicked off their 2015 U17 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in style, defeating Cameroon 3-1 in an exciting Group B clash in Niger. With this strong performance, the Eaglets now sit alone at the top of the group.
After a goalless first half, the match came to life in the second. Sangaré opened the scoring for Mali in the 50th minute, only for Hongla to equalize for Cameroon ten minutes later with a well-taken header from a corner. But Mali took control in the final stages: Koita restored their lead, and Traoré sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal.
Earlier in the day, reigning champions Ivory Coast and South Africa played out a 2-2 draw, leaving Mali with an early advantage in the group. The next matches will be crucial in determining which teams advance to the knockout stages.
