Mali have won bronze at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup after defeating Argentina 3-0 in the third place final match on December 1, 2023.
Both teams suffered semi-final losses to Germany and France respectively and so took to the Stadion Mahanon in Indonesia, searching for a consolation in the third-place match.
It was the Africans who did everything right to get the win and cart home the bronze medal after an entertaining game.
Mali pressed Argentina hard to get the opening goal and got the desired lead through Ibrahim Diarra’s goal in the 9th minute.
The african lads were the best side of the first half and made their dominance count with Mamadou Doumbia doubling their lead just before the halftime break.
After the break, Mali scored a third goal in the 48th minute to further consolidate their grip of the encounter.
Hamidou Makalou finished off a Ibrahim Diarra assist for 3-0.
Despite the healthy lead, Mali still pressed their south america opposition hard for more goals but there was no changes to the scoreline until referee Fu Ming whistled for full-time.
It finished 3-0 in favour of Mali who will be decorated with bronze medals at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup semi-final hosted by Indonesia.
Meanwhile, 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup final between France and Germany will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
Both countries have never tasted success in this competition and so will push for their first-ever title in the all-european final.
Twenty-four teams participated in the competition, with the most-successful in the competition history, Nigeria [5-titles] absent.
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