ABIDJAN: At the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, hosts Ivory Coast surprised Senegal by eliminating the defending champions on penalties in the round of 16 to preserve their chances of taking home the championship.
It appeared as though the Ivorians would suffer a humiliating group-stage elimination from their own AFCON a week ago, but they have advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Senegal 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 stalemate that ended in extra time.
After suffering their worst-ever home loss to Equatorial Guinea in the first round, the Elephants managed to proceed to the knockout stage with the lowest record among the four best third-placed teams.
However, in an attempt to jolt a club that was in shock for a daunting tie against the holders, former player Emerse Fae was named interim manager instead.
Ivory Coast’s night in Yamoussoukro appeared to be difficult when Senegal took the lead in the fourth minute through a powerful finish from Habib Diallo, who headed in Sadio Mane’s cross from the left.
Soon later, Mane was sent off for a risky challenge on Ibrahim Sangare, but Senegal felt similarly unfairly treated early in the second half.
Ismaila Sarr and Odilon Kossounou went down in a tangle of legs in the box, but the referee did not come over to check the incident on the pitchside monitor, nor was a penalty awarded.
Rather, the Ivorians were awarded a late penalty of their own; a video assistant review indicated that Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy had chopped down Nicolas Pepe.
After being benched at the beginning of play, Franck Kessie of the Saudi club Al Ahli converted the penalty to force extra time.
When there was no more scoring, it came down to penalties, and Moussa Niakhate of Senegal was the only one to miss, hitting the post with his attempt.
Then, on Saturday in the central city of Bouake, Kessie scored the game-winning kick to propel Ivory Coast to a last-eight match against either Mali or Burkina Faso.
Tuesday’s round of 16 matchup between Mali and Burkina Faso, neighbors, takes place in the northern city of Korhogo.
