Nigeria's March 2024 international break concluded with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mali in a friendly match held in Marrakesh, Morocco. This result brought a swift end to the early positivity that had surrounded Finidi George's interim spell in charge.
Mali, ranked 19 places below the Super Eagles in FIFA's latest standings, showcased a performance that fully merited their victory. The match took place in front of a lively group of Malian fans. The goals came from El Bilal Toure in the first half and Kamory Doumbia late in the second half, securing the win for Mali.
Here's a breakdown of the game, including key moments, stats, and team news.
Match Summary
- Final Score: Nigeria 0 - Mali 2
- Goals: Toure 18', K. Doumbia 87'
- Location: Marrakesh, Morocco
Nigeria had previously defeated Ghana 2-1, which was seen as a positive result and performance under George. However, the display against Mali raised concerns, especially with World Cup qualifying matches looming in June.
Key Moments
The first half saw Atalanta striker El Bilal Toure capitalize on a defensive error by Nigeria. Defender Chidozie Awaziem's errant pass near the edge of the Nigeria box went straight to Toure, who controlled the ball and finished past goalkeeper Stanely Nwabali.
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Moses Simon suffered an injury after colliding with Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa. He was stretchered off the field and replaced by Cyriel Dessers. Dessers later missed a clear opportunity to equalize early in the second half.
The second half lacked clear-cut chances for Nigeria. With just three minutes of normal time remaining, Kamory Doumbia scored Mali's second goal after another defensive lapse by Kenneth Omeruo and the Nigerian defense.
Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs Mali 🇲🇱 | Extended Highlights | #AfroBasketWomen 2025
Injury to Moses Simon
Moses Simon's injury occurred with approximately 10 minutes remaining in the first half. The Nantes winger collided with Mali's goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa while chasing a pass from Alex Iwobi. Simon appeared to injure his knee and was visibly in discomfort as he was taken off on a stretcher.
If the win over Ghana was a welcome boost for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finalists, this was a reality check before they face South Africa in early June.
Match Statistics
Here's a comparison of the key stats from the match:
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| Statistic | Nigeria | Mali |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 7 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 5 |
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Corners | 5 | 2 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 0 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
This was the 12th meeting between these nations.
Lineups and Team News
Finidi George faced challenges due to injuries to key players such as Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, and Zaidu Sanusi. Midfielder Frank Onyeka also withdrew from the squad. Despite these setbacks, George made some rotations from the team that played against Ghana, bringing in Kenneth Omeruo and Wilfred Ndidi.
Starting Lineups
- Nigeria (3-4-3, right to left): Nwabali (GK) - Omeruo, Awaziem, Ajayi - Osayi-Samuel, Ndidi, Onyedika, Collins - Iwobi, Iheanacho, Simon
Nigeria Subs: Uzoho, Ojo, Tanimu, Lookman, Dessers, Umar, Tella, Dele-Bashiru, Onyemaechi, Yusuf
- Mali (4-3-3, right to left): Samassa (GK) - Traore, Kouyate, Sagnon, Guindo - Coulibaly, Samassekou, Haidara - Toure, K. Doumbia, Sinayoko
Mali Subs: Diarra, Sacko, Fofana, Maiga, M.
Mali were coming off a 2-0 win over Mauritania, but the match against Nigeria presented a sterner test of their abilities.
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