Koulibaly downplays favourites tag as Senegal march into AFCON semis

The Teranga Lions became the first team to reach the AFCON 2025 semifinals after edging past a stubborn and 10-man Malian side 1-0 at the Grand Stade de Tanger in Tangier last night.

An early goal from Everton’s Illman Ndiaye proved decisive in a tightly contested West African derby that tested Senegal’s patience and discipline.

Koulibaly weighs in on the favourites tag...

"The journalists are saying we are the favourites, but we have to show it on the pitch, and we showed it tonight. Now, we want to continue like this."

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Mali, despite being reduced to 10 men for much of the match, showed resilience and determination, but Senegal’s defensive organisation and composure ensured they protected their slender advantage to secure a place in the last four.

They could have also killed this game off but were unlucky in the final third. Koulibaly has attributed Senegal’s impressive run in the tournament to a strong team spirit.

The former Chelsea and Napoli defender, who now plays for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, captained Senegal to its maiden AFCON title in Cameroon in 2021.

That experience has been evident in the team’s approach during the knockout stages, with Senegal showing calmness and game management in high-pressure moments.

"When you get to the quarterfinals, you know that if you lose you are going home, so today we can be happy. It was a derby, we won it, and now we can continue on our path. At the start of the tournament, we wanted to play seven matches and reach the grand final. The semifinal is going to be a serious match, and it's a good thing that we are going to get some rest."

Looking ahead to the semifinals, Koulibaly has also avoided singling out any preferred opponent among the remaining contenders, including the reigning champions (Ivory Coast) and the record seven-time winners (Egypt).