U.S. Valenciennes, a team from France, defeated Mali 3-2 in a match played last Sunday (10 January) in Bamako. The match, before, 18,000 people, was held in the capital's Omnisport stadium.

There was much interest in the match in Bamako as it was the first time since 1954 that a team from Mali met Frenchmen on the football pitch.

Before the match, both beams were presented to Mali's Minister of Sport, M. Yaya Bagayoko.

At the kickoff, Mali went into the attack, and after three minutes, they had scored. The Frenchmen soon took over the attack, however, and two goals were scored in rapid succession by Joseph, of Cameroun.

The attack switched from side to side in the remainder of the first half. Fanta-Mady Keita and Sekou Diallo of Mali were two of the players whose efforts were most effective in the first half.

At half-time, the Frenchmen were ahead 2-1.

During the second half, the French scored another goal with Mali's team equalising shortly after. But the final French effort brought the winning goal to Valenciennes. The Bamako spectators, however, were reported well satisfied by the effort of the Mali team.