Mali finish third in FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023
Mali, runners up at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, beat Argentina 3-0 in Indonesia to secure third place in the 2023 edition of the tournament.
Ibrahim Diarra , one of the stars of the tournament, opened the scoring in the ninth minute. The Mali captain expertly controlled a lofted pass from Sekou Kone before striking the ball into the bottom corner.
Mali continued to control the game and got the second goal just before half-time. Makalou was the creator, with his free-kick delivery headed home by Doumbia.
Though Argentina tried to get back in the game in the second half, Hamidou Makalou’s strike essentially ended the game within three minutes. Makalou got the ball just inside the box, nutmegged Tobias Palacio and side-stepped Dylan Gorosito and goalkeeper Jeremias Florentin before tapping into an empty net.
Argentina’s Claudio Echeverri thought he had reduced the deficit with a neat finish shortly after the hour, but he was declared offside.
There were to be no further goals, however, as Mali comfortably saw out an impressive victory.
“We’re happy. We would have liked to take home the cup, but this bronze medal is very nice. During the match, we stuck together, and I dedicate this victory to the Malian people,” Diarra said after the match.
