Mali’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a hit as they were held to a goalless draw by Central African Republic in a crucial Group I fixture. The result leaves Mali in third place in the group, behind leaders Ghana.
The two teams had previously met in 2023, with that match also ending in a draw. This time around, both teams were looking to secure three points to boost their chances of World Cup qualification.
The game started evenly, with both teams creating chances in the early stages. Central African Republic’s Gabriel Oualengbe was the first player to be booked for a foul on Basse-Zokana. Mali came close to scoring through Cheick Konaté, but his shot was saved by the Central African Republic goalkeeper.
As the first half progressed, Mali missed several clear-cut chances to take the lead. Nene Dorgeles squandered a golden opportunity to score after a good save by Lembet. The teams went into halftime with the score still tied at 0-0.
The second half saw Mali continue to push for a goal, but they were unable to break the deadlock. Dorgeles had a shot saved by Lembet, while Konaté hit the post with a curling effort. Central African Republic had a chance of their own through Louis Mafouta, but his shot went over the bar.
Both teams made substitutions in the second half to try and find a breakthrough. Central African Republic brought on Bertillo Yangana-Ba-Komi and Wesley Ngakoutou, while Mali introduced Mamadou Sangaré. The game became more physical as it neared the final whistle, with Léonce Namgbema receiving a yellow card for his actions on the pitch.
In the end, neither team could find a winner, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw. Mali now sits in third place in the group, while Central African Republic remains in fifth place. Ghana’s victory over Madagascar later in the day saw them maintain their position at the top of the group.
Overall, it was a disappointing result for Mali, who missed a chance to close the gap on Ghana at the top of the group. They will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming fixtures if they are to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
