Hosts Ivory Coast Knock Holders Senegal Out Of AFCON

After a disastrous group campaign, hosts Ivory Coast defeated holders Senegal 5-4 on penalties on Monday to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals, where they will play either Mali or Burkina Faso.

Habib Diallo scored for Senegal after four minutes in a thrilling last-16 match that ended 1-1 after extra time. Four minutes remaining in regular time saw Franck Kessie tie the score with a penalty kick in Yamoussoukro.

The decisive kick was converted by Kessie, the shootout hero, after Moussa Niakhate's third Senegalese penalty struck the post.

Senegal became the seventh champion in a row to succumb to the Cup of Nations curse; since Egypt in 2008, no team has been able to advance past the round of 16.

A terrible 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea last Monday did not dampen support for the host nation with supporters queueing from the middle of the night to buy tickets in the central city.
After the historic home defeat, the Elephants fired French coach Jean-Louis Gasset and promoted assistant Emerse Fae after failing to rehire former coach Herve Renard.

The 16 qualifiers from the group stage who were the most and least impressive against one another in the west African matchup.

Senegal advanced as the only section winners with a maximum nine points, easily defeating the Gambia, Cameroon, and Guinea to win Group D.

Despite losing to Nigeria as well and having a goal differential of minus three, Ivory Coast managed to finish as the last of the top four third-placed nations, despite only managing three points.
Against Equatorial Guinea, Fae made five changes to the starting lineup: he promoted Serge Aurier, Odilon Kossounou, Jean Michael Seri, Max-Alain Gradel, and Jean-Philippe Krasso.

Senegal substituted Moussa Niakhate, Abdou Diallo, and Lamine Camara for three of that starting lineup despite defeating Guinea 2-0 in their most recent group match.

terrible beginning

Ivory Coast's fragile mental state did not want them to concede an early goal, but Habib Diallo's second goal of this AFCON put them behind the score after four minutes.

When Sadio Mane crossed the ball, Diallo used his chest to control it before shooting high past Youssef Fofana in goal.

Five minutes later, Mane was given a yellow card by the Gabonese referee for a careless tackle on Ibrahim Sangare.
The Ivorians, who had made significant progress since their previous game, gradually gained the upper hand, only to have opponents counter-attack with all ten of their outfield players pulled back when under duress.

After absorbing a lot of pressure, the reigning champions had a strong finish to the first half but were unable to extend their lead.

Senegal appeared to be the more likely winners as the game went into the final quarter, despite Ivory Coast having more possession and having Ismaila Sarr's shot blocked and penalty appeal turned down.

In the midst of the crowd's elation upon Sebastien Haller's introduction, who was sidelined due to injury, Mane missed a close-range shot.

Senegal custodian Edouard Mendy made a fantastic save from substitute when the Ivorians decided to go with a route-one strategy. Nicolas Pepe.
After Mendy fouled Pepe on the 86th minute, the referee reversed his earlier decision not to award a spot kick, and Franck Kessie coolly converted it, marking Senegal's breakthrough.

Mane, the two-time African Player of the Year, had his shot blocked by Fofana shortly before halftime in extra time.