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Despite struggling with their own performance and not having a head coach, Ivory Coast, hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations, managed to defeat defending champions Senegal and advance to the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.
The outcome was all the more improbable given Senegal had emerged from their group phase with a perfect record, the only one in the tournament, while Ivory Coast only snuck through as the lowest-ranked qualifier of the third-placed teams, without a goal in their previous two fixtures.
Although the form guide seemed to suggest a predictable result at first, it was the persistent efforts of Ivory Coast and their effectiveness in penalty kicks, especially from substitute Franck Kessie, that ultimately made the biggest difference.
After only five minutes, a pivotal moment occurred: Sadio Mane managed to keep the ball in play on the left side and sent a cross to Habib Diallo near the penalty area. Diallo controlled the ball with his chest and quickly kicked it into the top of the net, scoring a goal for Senegal and giving them an early advantage.
Although initially dominating the game, the Lions of Teranga became complacent with their lead and did not pose much of a threat to the Elephants’ goal afterwards. Mane had one shot over the bar in the second half, while Sarr’s shot was saved – but that was the extent of their efforts. On the other hand, Ivory Coast had a slow start and had to gradually find their rhythm and build team chemistry. They ultimately earned a well-deserved victory by the end of the match.
After Jean-Louis Gasset was fired during the tournament, Emerse Fae took over as interim manager for Ivory Coast. They made a series of offensive substitutions in the second half to increase the intensity and put pressure on the opposing team.
Christian Kouame, Franck Kessie, Sebastian Haller and Nicolas Pepe were all called upon and contributed to the eventual tying goal with only five minutes left. Pepe was the one who was ultimately knocked over by former Chelsea goalie Edouard Mendy, resulting in a penalty after VAR review. However, the on-field referee initially inexplicably deemed it not a foul.
Kessie confidently scored the tie-breaking goal, leading to extra time. Although there were few opportunities in the additional 30 minutes, Ivory Coast was clearly the dominant team for most of the match. They showed more aggression in their attacks and executed better plays.
During the shootout, nine out of ten penalties were skillfully scored. However, Moussa Niakhate’s shot hit the outside of the post and missed, giving Kessie the opportunity to make the final strike and score high into the net.
As the crowd cheered and the potential for success grew, Ivory Coast advanced to face Mali or Burkina Faso. Meanwhile, Senegal is forced to reflect on missed opportunities as they are eliminated early in their attempt to defend their championship title.
Source: independent.co.uk
