Mali & Senegal Advance in AFCON; Kenya's Starlets Await Active Year

Mali secured a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Tunisia in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, progressing to the quarter-finals after their match ended 1-1. Mali played much of the game with 10 men. In another last-16 match in Tangiers, teenager Ibrahim Mbaye scored a late goal to secure a 3-1 victory for Senegal over Sudan. Meanwhile, 2026 presents a stark contrast for Kenya's national football teams. The women's team, Harambee Starlets, anticipates an active year on the continental stage, while the men's team, Harambee Stars, will have a period of rebuilding with limited competitive matches.