2027 AFCON: Nene Dorgeles brace helps Mali overturn Cape Verde 3-1 in Bamako
Mali made a successful start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign by beating Cape Verde 3-1 on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the 26-Mars Stadium in Bamako. Nene Dorgeles, who scored a brace, was the key architect of this victory.
A match played at a frantic pace
The Eagles opened the scoring in just the 5th minute through Martial Tia. However, the Blue Sharks responded almost immediately: Lopes Cabral equalized in the 10th minute, serving as a reminder that Cape Verde had not come to Bamako to be victims.
It was then that Nene Dorgeles took control. The Malian striker restored his team's lead in the 39th minute and then extended the gap shortly after the break, in the 51st minute, according to Afrik-Foot. Cape Verde never recovered.
A high-caliber opponent
The performance carries significant weight. Cape Verde, a small archipelago of about half a million inhabitants, was one of the major sensations of the 2026 World Cup, according to Africa Top Sports. Beating such a confident team is a strong signal sent by the Eagles.
This match also marked the official debut of Anthony Da Silva on the Malian bench. The new coach found in Dorgeles an attacking leader capable of turning a tight contest in his team's favor.
Leading Group K
After this first matchday, Mali shares the lead of Group K with Rwanda, who defeated Liberia 3-1. The Eagles will face Liberia on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, while Cape Verde will look to get back on track against Rwanda.
Still in search of their first continental title, Mali, finalists in 1972, want to make the 2027 AFCON, hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, their moment of glory.
This article was written in French with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited below, then translated from French automatically. Read the original.
