AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast stun holders Senegal in shootout to reach quarter-finals
Ivory Coast beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra-time in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Monday night.
Therefore, the Elephants progressed to the quarterfinals of Africa’s biggest football tournament. The hosts will now go head to head with either Mali or Burkina Faso in the last eight on 3 February at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
Senegal, on the other hand, crashed out of the tournament as their hopes of successfully defending the Afcon title diminished and they will now travel back home after a shock exit.
It took just four minutes for the Lions of Teranga to take the lead after some great work by Sadio Mane. The two-time CAF Footballer of the Year set up Habib Diallo who was afforded space and time to fire home to hand Senegal a 1-0 lead.
The Elephants responded by exerting pressure on the Lions of Teranga with Seko Fofana driving the hosts forward. The Al Nassr midfielder was able to test goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who made a great save to deny Fofana in the 40th minute and the score was 1-0 to Senegal at halftime.
Ivory Coast created the better chances after the restart with Mendy forced to pull off a fine save to deny Franck Kessie in the 73rd minute. Pressure was mounting on Senegal as Nicolas Pepe was sent through on goal in the 77th minute and he was also denied by Mendy.
The Elephants continued to push for the equalising goal and they were awarded a penalty after Pepe was fouled by Mendy in the box. Kessie stepped up and beat Mendy from the spot-kick to make it 1-1, and the game ended in a draw in regulation time, and extra-time followed.
The two teams attacked each other in extra-time, but there were no goals and the match was decided by a penalty shootout. Ivory Coast won 5-4 on penalties with Kessie scoring the winning penalty as Moussa Niakhate became the only one who missed during the shootout.
A late Ryan Mendes penalty gave Cape Verde a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mauritania to book their place in quarter-finals.
In a tense last 16 clash at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, the two sides were deadlocked at 0-0 as the game entered the closing stages.
Cape Verde had dominated possession and chances, with Jovane Cabral having a goal disallowed for offside in the opening minutes. But Mauritania’s defence held firm.
As the match wore on, Cape Verde continued to press while Mauritania posed threats on the counter attack. Both sets of passionate fans roared their teams on, but a winner still eluded both.
The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute when Mauritania keeper Babacar Niasse brought down Gilson Tavares in the box.
Up stepped captain Ryan Mendes to smash home the penalty and make it 1-0.
With the Mourabitounes now forced to chase the game, Cape Verde stood firm to see out a famous victory and advance to the quarter-finals for the second time, where they will face either Morocco or South Africa on Saturday.
