Senegal, Mali cruise to Africa Deaflympics final

Senegal and Mali will square it out in the final of Africa Deaflympics Ball Games after cruising past scintillating semifinals at Kasarani’s Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Stadium today.

The two countries will now fight it out for the solitary men’s football slots allocated to Africa in the 2022 Deaflympics during Saturday’s final at the same venue.

Mali came from two goals down to survive a nail-biting scare from Egypt; to win 4-3 on post-match penalties.

Mali and Egypt were deadlocked 2-2 in regulation time and fought to a goalless 30-minute extra-time.

Two quick goals from Elbana Hassan and Mohammed Amr in the 8th and 10th minutes gave the North Africans an early advantage over their West African opponents. But Mali pulled one back in the 25th minute through Mamadou Traore as Egypt went to the locker room with a 2-1 lead.

Mali equalised in the 57th minute through Mousa Dida Keita as the scoreline stood at two all in regulation time.

Earlier Senegal defeated Cameroon 4-1 in the first semifinal.

Senegal oozed confidence from the first whistle with quick goals from Tafsir Ibnou and Sarr Alassane in the 4th and 6th minutes before Cameroon pulled one back through Ainock Simon Pierre in the 34th minute.

With a 2-1 lead at halftime, the well-oiled and goal-hungry Senegalese outfit resumed its relentless attack on their opponent’s territory forcing an own goal by Handou Djeudi in the 58th minute.

Marro Khadim added the fourth for Senegal in the added time.

Senegal and Mali were both pooled alongside Kenya in Pool A. Kenya lost both matches to the West Africans.

Egypt will now take on Cameroon in the playoffs on Friday.