Mali eliminated from Paris 2024 after a defeat against Paraguay
2 min read
Mali’s dream for Olympic medal came to an end after a shock 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in their final Group D match at Parc des Princes on Tuesday, July 30.
The Eagles was hoping to defeat La Albirroja to stand a chance of advancing to the knockout stages as runners-up to Japan after picking up just one point from their opening two games at Paris 2024.
But they got off to the worst possible start in the French capital when Marcelo Fernandez latched onto a through-ball from Marcelo Perez and fired home from outside the area to open the scoring in the fifth minute.
Fernandez then looked to turn provider for Perez on 11 minutes, although Lassine Diarra was alert to the danger as he saved the striker’s shot from a tight angle.
Mali finally got their best chance of the first half on 44 minutes, with Ahmed Diomande forcing a sharp save out of Roberto Fernandez after being picked inside the box by Moussa Diakite.
Alou Badra Diallo’s side threatened again at the start of the second half when Boubacar Traore tested Fernandez from inside the area before Coli Saco gave the goalkeeper some more work to do in 63 minutes with a strike from range.
The West Africans continued to push for an equaliser and Ibrahima Cisse also drew a save out of Fernandez on 72 minutes after being teed up by Mamadou Tounkara.
Paraguay were hanging on and they almost second a second goal at the death when Gustavo Caballero lashed a shot towards the bottom right corner, but Diarra pulled off a smart save to deny him.
BY LUCKY SEANEGO
