The young Eagles of Mali on Sunday night won the 2015 CAF African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic after defeating the Amajimbos of South Africa 2-0 in the final played in Niamey.
It was the first time Mali had won the cadet Nations Cup since the competition began in 1995 incidentally in that country.
Mali had lost 0-1 to Egypt in the final of the second edition held in Botswana in 1997 before Sunday’s triumph in Niger Republic.
After a barren situation in the first half, Siaka Bagayoko opened the scoring for the West Africans in the 64th minute.
Aly Malle doubled the lead in the 77th minute as the youngsters from the Rainbow Nation which humbled the reigning world champions, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets 1-0 in the semi-final this time, failed to get their act together to even reduce the tally, let alone carry the day.
The young Malians dominated the better part of the final as South Africa settled for the ticket to this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile as consolation.
All the semi-finalists at Niger 2015 will represent Africa at this year’s cadet World Cup won by Nigeria in the United Arab Emirates in 2013.