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U-17 AFCON: Mali retain crown

By Daily Sports on May 29, 2017

*Guinea in third spot

Mali successfully defended their U17 Africa Cup of Nations title, defeating Ghana 1-0 in the 2017 final at Stade de l'Amitié in Libreville on Sunday evening.

Mamadou Samake with the only goal of the game as the 2015 champions kept hold of the crown they won in Niger two years ago.

The game got off to a frantic start with both teams squandering chances at either end of the pitch.

The opening goal duly followed in the 22nd minute, with Samake quickest to react after Danlad Ibrahim had denied the Eagles from the penalty spot. The Mali attacker quickest to react; slipping the ball through the legs of the Black Starlets goal-minder after he had made a good save.

Mali were handed another chance from 12 yards in the 33rd minute following another clear foul inside the area. But, Ibrahim was up to the task once more - diving to his right to keep out the ball.

Mali subsequently join Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria as the most successful team in the tournament, as they now set their sights on coming up trumps at the World Cup in India later this year.

For the third spot, a brace from Fandje Toure and one strike from Abdourahamane Bah gave Guinea a 3-1 win over Niger at the Stade de l'Amitié Sino-Gabonaise, Libreville on Sunday.

With both sides looking to bag the bronze medal, it was a cagey start in Libreville in the opening 10 minutes, but Guinea would end up defeating the Niger counterpart for the bronz.

The defeat for the Young Menas sees them finishing as number four in the junior continental tournament, but will participate at the 2017 U17 FIFA World Cup in India in October.

*Photo shows victorious Mali.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 29, 2017