France will try to claim a second championship after their only win in 2001 when they face Germany in the tournament decider on Saturday in the Javan city of Surakarta.
Germany defeated Argentina in the other semi-final 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
But France had to come back from a goal down after Mali took the lead in first-half injury time through captain Ibrahim Diarra.
It was the first goal conceded in the tournament by the young players of coach Jean-Luc Vannuchi.
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