Mali Dominates New Zealand in FIFA U-17 World Cup Debut
In an impressive display, Mali triumphed over New Zealand with a decisive 3-0 victory in their opening match of Group L at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. This match took place on November 5, 2025, at Aspire Academy in Doha.
Mali Dominates New Zealand in FIFA U-17 World Cup Debut
Mali started strong, taking the lead in the 17th minute. Seydou Dembele, known as “the little Messi,” scored after a fast counterattack. His left-footed strike evaded New Zealand goalkeeper Toby Borgnis, showcasing Mali’s tactical prowess.
Match Overview
The match highlighted Mali’s control from the outset. They had 14 shots compared to New Zealand’s four in the first half. Dembele was pivotal, orchestrating play and maintaining pressure on the New Zealand defense.
- Key Moments:
- 17th Minute: Seydou Dembele opened the scoring.
- 55th Minute: Mahamadou Traore extended the lead.
- 78th Minute: Raymond Bomba sealed the victory.
New Zealand’s coach, Martin Bullock, attempted to shift momentum by introducing forwards Ben Perez Baldoni and Justin Cardozo. However, New Zealand struggled to penetrate Mali’s organized defense. Aaron Cartwright almost made a difference with a free kick in the 79th minute, but it went over the bar.
Final Score and Statistics
Mali secured their victory with a final score of 3-0. They dominated the match with a total of 31 shots compared to New Zealand’s eight.
In the other match of the group, Austria defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0. New Zealand now looks forward to facing Saudi Arabia in their next match, hoping to recover from this setback.
Match Summary:
| Team | Goals |
|---|---|
| Mali | Seydou Dembele (17’), Mahamadou Traore (55’), Raymond Bomba (78’) |
| New Zealand | 0 |
This defeat marks a challenging start for New Zealand in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, while Mali’s strong performance sets a promising tone for their campaign.
