Mali breathed new life into their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Comoros, climbing to third place in Group I whilst dealing a significant blow to their opponents’ own qualification aspirations.
The Eagles made their intentions clear from the outset and were rewarded for their enterprise in the 27th minute. Mustapha Sangare showed excellent awareness to retrieve the ball near the byline before delivering a precise cross for Dorgeles Nene, who made no mistake with a powerful finish from close range.
Mali almost doubled their advantage before the interval when striker Kamory Doumbia came agonisingly close to finding the target, his effort striking the outside of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
The hosts maintained their dominance throughout the second half and put the result beyond doubt with two goals in quick succession during the final quarter. Doumbia made amends for his earlier miss by converting confidently from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, before Lassana Coulibaly applied the finishing touches with a predatory strike six minutes later.
The victory represents a crucial turnaround for Mali’s qualification hopes after a stuttering start to their campaign. The Eagles now sit in third place and remain within touching distance of the automatic qualification spots, with only group winners guaranteed a place at the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
For Comoros, who began the day occupying second place in the group, this defeat represents a significant setback. They slip to fourth position and now face an uphill battle to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The result adds further intrigue to Group I, where Ghana continue to lead despite their surprise draw with Chad, whilst Madagascar have moved into second place following their victory over Central African Republic.
