Andrew Olsson
November 5, 2025U-17 World Cup: Mali demolishes New Zealand
U-17 World Cup: Mali demolishes New Zealand
Seydou Dembele provided a goal and an assist as Mali began their 2025 U-17 World Cup campaign with a decisive 3-0 victory over New Zealand on Wednesday.
đđ¨đ¨đ¨đ¨đ§ đąđ˛ đĻđ˛đđąđŧđ đđ˛đēđ¯đ˛Ėđšđ˛Ė ! đĄđŧđ đ¨đđŗ đēđ˛Ėđģđ˛đģđ đ-đŦ đŗđŽđ°đ˛ đŽĖ đšđŽ đĄđŧđđđ˛đšđšđ˛-đđ˛ĖđšđŽđģđąđ˛ đ¤˛đžđ˛đąpic.twitter.com/4l3a9qLbjf
â MALI COMPS đ˛đą (@malicomps) November 5, 2025
Dembele and attacking teammate Zoumana Balla terrorized the defense of the Oceania confederation representatives throughout the match. The two combined for the opening goal in the 17th minute to give Les Aiglonettes the halftime advantage.
While supporters of New Zealand could say that their team was in contention after the first half, the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up seized full control after halftime. Dembele returned the favor to Ballo, who doubled the advantage before the hour mark after receiving a perfect pass from the Eaglets #10.
đđ¨đ¨đ¨đ¨đ§ ! đđŧđđēđŽđģđŽ đđŽđšđšđŧ đŽđ´đ´đŋđŽđđ˛ đšđ˛ đđ°đŧđŋđ˛ đŽĖ đŽ-đŦ ! đđ đžđđ˛đšđšđ˛ đŊđŽđđđ˛ đąđ˛ đđ˛đēđ¯đ˛Ėđšđ˛Ė ! đ¤¯đ˛đąpic.twitter.com/ZVN0NwaJmw
â MALI COMPS đ˛đą (@malicomps) November 5, 2025
Ndjicoura Bomba, who provided three goals and two assists at the U-17 AFCON earlier this year in Morocco, finished the scoring by cutting inside and finishing. Another outstanding pass, this time by Ibrahim Diakite, provided the service for Bomba.
Mali will next face Austria, the other winners from the first round of matches in Group L, on Saturday.