Izuchukwu OkosiThe shocks that have characterised the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire reached its peak late Monday night as hosts Cote d’Ivoire came from a goal down to pull a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes before beating African champions Senegal 5-4 on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals, reports Prime Business Africa.
Monday night’s clash became the first meeting between the hosts of the tournament and a reining champion since Mali 2002.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Ivorians have had a stuttering start to the tournament, finishing in third place from Group A.
The Elephants beat Guinea Bissau 1-0 but suffered humiliating defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in front of their adoring supporters.
The ‘Orange men’ had to rely on favorable results elsewhere and particularly from Morocco to guarantee a spot in the last 16 as one of the four third-best place teams from the group stage.
Senegal were in the lead 4 minutes into the game through 20-year-old forward, Habib Diallo, who controlled the ball beautifully with his chest and found the roof of the net after a pass from Sadio Måne.
Frank Kessie restored parity for the Elephants deep into the first half from the penalty spot after Edouard Mendy clattered into former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe.
The VAR awarded the spot kick after the referee had initially overlooked the pleas of the Ivorian players.
The game was a cagey affair until after the extra time culminating in a penalty shootout to determine the eventual winner.
Senegal converted four spot kicks while the host team bouyed by the support of the fans in the stands, scored all five of their efforts.
In the earlier round of 16 game on Monday evening, Cape Verde pipped Mauritania 1-0 ‘in a battle of the underdogs’ to reach the ‘last 8’ of the tournament.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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