That was the Africa Cup of Nations at its best. It looked like it was going to be a rout early on as Senegal scored Habib Diallo inside four minutes with a fantastic strike. But the hosts, rejuvenated by the home crowd, kept pushing despite Senegal’s robust defending.
Substitutions made a massive impact and Ivory Coast earned a penalty late in the second-half. The referee needed to resort to the VAR monitor despite it being clear as day but despite the delay, Franck Kessié calmly stepped up to equalise.
Neither side could find a goal in extra-time and in the penalty shootout it was the Elephants who scored all five of their spot kicks to earn them a win. They will now play either Mali or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals.
A host nation has not won Afcon since Egypt in 2006. We still have a long way to go but this performance has surely given the Elephants belief that they can go all the way.
That’s all from me but before you go, check out Jonathan Wilson’s report from the Stade Charles Konan Banny. Thanks for tuning in and see you next time!
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Seri wins the official CAF man of the match award. He speaks in French but the emotion is so evident on his face and in his tone of voice. His teammates crash the interview, jumping around and celebrating. As they should. What a win!
Tears for the team in green. Dieng wipes away his face. Niakhaté looks inconsolable as the only player who missed his spot kick.
The curse continues. Since Egypt in 2010, no defending Afcon champion has qualified to the quarter-finals.
2012 – Egypt – did not qualify
2013 – Zambia – group stage exit
2015 – Nigeria – did not qualify
2017 – Ivory Coast – group stage exit
2019 -Cameroon – last 16 exit
2021 – Algeria – group stage exit
2023 – Senegal – last 16 exit
Massive celebrations from almost everyone in the stadium! Kessié runs straight to the fans. The bench goes absolutely crazy. Wow!
This team were down and out only a few days ago! This is Emerse Faé’s first ever match in charge as a senior manager. What a performance! The hosts march on in incredible fashion. The Elephants trumpet on, I should say!
![]Ivory Coast’s Christian Kouame, Simon Adingra and Serge Aurier celebrate.](https://media.guim.co.uk/1ae907749c7a2d0c22fad9ddffe26dde1299b0b4/0_0_3865_2576/1000.jpg)
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Full-time: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast win 5-4 on pens)
Kessié scores! Mendy tries to throw him off but he looks assured and his shot is high into the roof of the net that sends the Elephants to the quarter-finals!
Mané scores: Senegal 4-4 Ivory Coast on pens
He’s missed a big penalty at Afcon back in 2017 but he rifles this one in. No chance of saving that!
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Aurier scores: Senegal 3-4 Ivory Coast on pens
A powerful one from the skipper! The noise is getting louder and louder now.
Dieng scores: Senegal 3-3 Ivory Coast on pens
He was brought on to score … and he does! It’s a low rolling one. Fofana goes the right way but he cannot get a hand to it.
Haller scores: Senegal 2-3 Ivory Coast on pens
The hosts have the lead for the first time in the shootout! It’s a penalty straight through the middle. Cool and composed from the striker.
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Niakhaté misses: Senegal 2-2 Ivory Coast on pens
The first miss! The Forest defender clatters the left post! Mané immediately comes out to comfort him. Can the hosts capitalise?
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Kouamé scores: Senegal 2-2 Ivory Coast on pens
It’s a fast run up and another great penalty. It’s exactly in the bottom right corner. No one has let up so far!
PM Sarr scores: Senegal 2-1 Ivory Coast on pens
Great technique! It’s high and in the middle.
Pépé scores: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast on pens
Into the bottom left hand corner the ball goes. Mendy goes the right way but it’s just out of reach.
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Koulibaly scores: Senegal 1-0 Ivory Coast on pens
Senegal step up first and it’s the skipper who begins it all. A quick run-up and he scores, opting to go to the right, Fofana heading the wrong way.
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Last night, the penalty shooutout between DR Congo and Egpyt ended 8-7. Let’s see if this one takes just as long.
The referee has a word with both keepers before we begin.
Heaven gets in touch via email:
Even as a fierce Nigeria fan I’m really enjoying this match … It’s a stone cold classic and could go either way … I wish I was in an Abidjan bar soaking up the vibe right now … The quality is immense …
Me too! Though my nerves are through the roof, as they always are when it comes to penalties.
Huge pressure for both these sides. Senegal face getting eliminated in the last 16, which would be an awful showing for the defending champions. Ivory Coast will want to get over the line in front of their faithful fans after an awful showing in the groups.
End of extra-time: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast
Wow! We go to penalties!
120+2 min: CLOSE! Pépé puts a great ball in for Haller who is right in front of goal, but the striker struggles under pressure from Koulibaly.
120+1 min: A ball is swung in but Mendy smothers it.
120 min: The referee gives at least two minutes of added time in the second-half of extra time.
115 min: Some substitutes are about to be made. But there is a delay. I think the Ivory Coast players/staff are discussing who to keep on for penalties. Eventually the change comes with Singo coming on for Kossounou. Senegal also make a change with Bamba Dieng coming on for Diallo.
113 min: End to end stuff right now! Ivory Coast have a chance after Kouamé plays the rebound of Kessié’s shot into Haller but Mendy makes a crucial save. Senegal then counter and Konan gets the smallest of touches to end the attack.
111 min: The hosts are playing as if they’re the defending champions and not the team that was in tears a few days ago after their final group game. But this Senegal side is clinical. All it takes is one moment.
109 min: A good ball from Adingra and Haller is lurking but the striker is behind Mendy who comes out and makes the catch.
106 min: Aurier hits a cross and instead of finding the head of Haller, it finds the arms of a supporter in row Z. He apologises with a smile. Neither of the teams look as if they are playing for a penalty but we’re definitely seeing some tired leg.
Second-half of extra time: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast
One last chance for either of these sides to score from open play. Or else we go to spot kicks.
105+1 min: WHAT A SAVE! Mané receives a cross and he’s one on one against Fofana but the keeper stretches out, makes himself big and denies him. A huge, huge, huge moment! That’s the last kick of the first-half of extra time.
102 min: Fofana is OK. Senegal take their corner and Koulibaly heads it down for Diallo who attempts a bicycle kick. Not a bad effort but it’s not on target.
100 min: Fofana misreads a cross and he clatters into the post. An unfortunate accident and the keeper is down getting treatment.
99 min: It has been a pretty pleasant atmosphere but now boos ring out when Senegal have the ball. And the cheers are just as deafening when the ball goes out of play. The fans certainly smell blood.
97 min: JUST WIDE! Aurier’s shot from distance beats Mendy and just whistles past the far post. It looked as if he thought that was in for a second before the realisation hit. Senegal under pressure at the moment.
96 min: I Sarr, who hasn’t had his best game, comes off for his club teammate Ndiaye.
95 min: Aurier gets booked for a tackle on Mané. That has been coming.
94 min: Adingra takes the ball of Koulibaly and it opens up for him! But yikes, it’s a poor shot despite having open space. He could have done better.
92 min: I Sarr receives the ball near the box but he’s well offside.
First-half of extra time: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast
How much more fight do these two sides have?
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Let’s go through some emails while the two sides regroup!
Kári, who emailed earlier about Senegal’s risky play of defending a one goal lead, writes:
On the balance of play, Senegal still seem likelier to go through, but on the balance of play they should’ve been two or three goals up. Aliou Cissé, who I greatly admire, let the momentum slip away from his team towards Ivory Coast and now the Lions of Teranga are at risk of adding to the long streak of reigning African champions not reaching the quarter-finals.
I am inclined to agree. There were moments, specifically in the first half where Senegal opted to slow the game down as if they were a few goals up. It’s been a masterclass of defending in many ways but it has shown how in the balance it all is.
Jon has his say:
I am rooting hard for Ivory Coast. I want the hosts to go as far as possible. The atmosphere looks fantastic and I think it’s a real boost if they continue on.
The stadium has been loud and proud since kick-off. If the hosts get knocked, I do agree that there will be a deflation of excitement. They have to earn it though!
End of 90 minutes: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast
The whistle blows but it’s not full-time. We go to extra-time!
90+6 min: A deflected shot from Gueye goes out for a corner. Can Senegal muster up a winner at the death? They can’t. The ball is too wide and it goes out on the other end of the pitch.
90+3 min: Ivory Coast win a free-kick. Earlier in the match, they haven’t been able to take advantage of set pieces because of the lack of height. But now Haller is in the box for the Elephants …
Pépé swings it in, but it’s too deep. A wasted opportunity.
90 min: Seri gets booked for a tactical foul on Mané. And we get confirmation that we have at least seven minutes of added time.
89 min: The stadium is absolutely rocking. Senegal make a change as Gueye comes on for Camara.
GOAL! Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast (Kessié 86')
The limping Elephants are no more! For now at least. A huge goal as Kessié hits it down the middle and there is massive celebrations around the stadium. The substitute bench swarms the penalty taker and the fans are going ballistic! We have a game on our hands!
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VAR takes a look ... Penalty to Ivory Coast!
84 min: Order restored. It was never not going to be a penalty. The commentator says “the only way that wasn’t a penalty is if the gods of football were from Senegal and Dakar”.
Mendy is booked for his foul and the hosts have a lifeline here.
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83 min: Every player in an orange shirt is furious! We wait a moment but the referee opts to go to the screen. As he goes, he books Cissé and someone from Senegal’s coaching staff for protesting. Not sure what they are complaining about. Let’s see what his decision will be … Surely he reverses it.
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Ivory Coast denied a clear penalty!
82 min: Haller gets the ball into Pépé and Mendy absolutely clatters him. Every one in the stadium knows it is a penalty … except for the referee. He gives Kouamé a yellow for protesting instead! WHAT!?!?!?!
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79 min: S Fofana makes way for Kouamé. That’s Ivory Coast’s final change of the game and it’s of course a forward. It’s all or nothing in these final minutes.
77 min: After the cooling break, Ivory Coast get another huge chance. Pépé receives a fantastic ball from Ndicka and he’s in loads of space. He tries to curl the ball around Mendy, but he’s to close and their isn’t enough curve on the shot and the keeper makes the save. Easily the hosts best chances of the game back to back there.
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74 min: HUGE CHANCE FOR IVORY COAST! From the free-kick, a shot is taken by Kessié and Mendy has to rush to get down low and make the save. Kessié then tries to power the rebound and somehow it’s saved again. Wow!
Mendy then takes a goal kick and the ball is at Mané’s feet in the box. He takes a shot and it just misses the corner. That could have been the goal to put the game to bed!
72 min: Camara is booked after a shove on Sangaré and Ivory Coast get a free-kick in a dangerous area. But before it’s taken Krasso and Sangaré come off for Kessié and Haller. The latter gets massive cheers. It’s his first appearance at this tournament after picking up an injury with Dortmund.
70 min: Camara has a go from distance! It’s just wide from about 25 yards out.
68 min: Good chance for the hosts! A good ball from Seri finds Aurier, who is maybe offside but no call. But the full-back can’t control the ball and Mendy is able to collect. Not without getting a knock. He’s down for a bit but he looks to be OK and play continues.
67 min: Senegal make their first subs of the game. H Diallo, the goalscorer, makes way for Jackson.
66 min: A rare Senegal attack in this second-half. It ends with Jakobs taking a shot that’s well-wide at the far post.
65 min: Ivory Coast make the first changes of the game. Pépé and Adingra come on for Gradel and Diakité. Haller was warming up much to the delight of the home fans but his time has not come yet.
60 min: H Diallo gets booked for an arm in the face after jumping up for a header.
59 min: Good defensive play from Diallo who wrestles the ball off of S Fofana in the box.
58 min: The referee doesn’t initially give the penalty and it looks like the VAR team agree with him. Senegal still protest against the decision but play continues.
54 min: Diakité again! He gets past Niakhaté and puts a fantastic ball in but no man is there. The replay shows Krasso was so close and just needed to get to the ball a touch quicker. Senegal counter on the end and as I Sarr gets into the box he barges into Kossounou. Or does the Ivorian defender barge into him? He falls and Senegal demand a penalty. Cissé is furious on the touchline as I Sarr gets treatment. The replay looks more clumsy than anything but there isn’t a great angle to see if there is a touch. VAR is being called upon here …
53 min: Good run from Diakité straight to the byline! Can he find a man as he pulls it back? He cannot and it’s straight into the hands of Mendy.
51 min: Diakité tries to get through the defence but he is bullied off the ball. He is searching for a free-kick right outside of the box but the referee isn’t interest.
47 min: Good save from Y Fofana! Koulibaly plays in I Sarr and the one question on my mind is where is the defence?! The winger makes a run forward to take the shot but the Ivorian keeper gets down low and prevents the ball from trickling in at the far post.
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46 min: Konan receives the ball in acres of space. He opts to cross it and it’s straight into the outstretched arms of Mendy. Great start that.
46 min: In that first half, Ivory Coast enjoyed 63% possession but they were rarely threatening with it. Senegal have looked happy to defend deep and counter and they’ve had the better chances. But that can be a dangerous game when you only have a one goal cushion.
Second-half: Senegal 1-0 Ivory Coast
Have the Elephants regrouped? Will Senegal break the Afcon curse of the defending champions failing to reach the quarter-finals that’s been at play since 2010? Let’s find out together!
Half-time: Senegal 1-0 Ivory Coast
Some really exciting football on display in Yamoussoukro but the hosts are on the brink of a last 16 exit after an early goal from H Diallo.
Be back in a bit!
45+5 min: Two really good balls back to back from Aurier but both are defended well. Senegal then counter but a rare poor touch from Mané kills the attack.
45+3 min: S Fofana loses the ball in a dangerous area and PM Sarr has a go from distance. It’s a good shot and relatively low but still just over the bar.
45 min: We’re getting at least five minutes of added time in this half.
45 min: CLOSE! Mané does well to get past the defender and he gets the ball to I Sarr. It looks to be a sure goal but the Marseille man can’t sort out his feet in time. A delayed whistle is blown for either an offside or for the ball going out of play. That was a really good chance.
45 min: Every time Diakité gets the ball on that right hand side, the Senegal defence doubles up on him.
40 min: Good run from S Fofana! The ball comes in the box and he barges onto it. The touch is heavy but he somehow gets through a couple of green shirts. He can’t get a shot off but he wins a corner. Pressure is better from Ivory Coast. They can’t do much from the corner though.
37 min: Krasso wiggles past Koulibaly and it looks like Ivory Coast can break here but the Senegalese recovers, strides over and wins the ball back.
33 min: We’re back in action. Mané goes down after a challenge from Seri. The Ivorian isn’t happy but it’s a clear foul as he barges into the winger with his shoulder.
31 min: The referee signals for a cooling break. The commentator on Sky Sports share a damning statistic. It has now been four hours since Ivory Coasr last scored in the tournament.
30 min: Ivory Coast wins a free-kick on the right and Seri overhits it massively. It bounces once before it goes out.
27 min: Fantastic defending from Niakhaté! Krasso gets into the box, puts the ball on his left and drops his shoulder before laying it off to S Fofana right in the middle of the box. The midfielder attempts a shot but he’s smothered by Niakhaté and the Senegalese defender regains possession.
25 min: It really has been all Ivory Coast since the goal. Senegal seem really happy to defend their lead with their robust defending. And the hosts may have had more of the ball but they aren’t threatening goal. Not a shot from them yet.
22 min: Ivory Coast win a free-kick from far out on the left. Sari whips it in but Mendy comes out and easily catches the ball before it can find anyone’s head.
21 min: The camera pans to El Hadji Diouf, the former Senegal international who was a part of that memorable 2002 team. He seems to be talking the ear off his guest beside him.
18 min: Gradel pings a fantastic cross-field ball to Diakité who lays it off to Sangaré but Ivory Coast are forced back out. Senegal have a really tight defence, they have only conceded once at this tournament, and it’s going to be hard for any orange shirt to get through.
16 min: A better spell for Ivory Coast. S Fofana makes a great run forward and has some great play with Krasso but they lose the ball before they can get into the box.
14 min: Sangaré is back on the pitch. A Diallo attempts a long ball over the top, but it’s straight to Y Fofana.
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13 min: Sangaré is stretchered off but no substitute yet as the medical staff will see if he is fit to continue. No sign that VAR are interested in the challenge, something of a shock to the commentators.
12 min: Sangaré is still down and it looks like he will be subbed off. A big blow for Ivory Coast. He’s played all but one minute for his side since the start of the tournament and has been a rare bright spot in this struggling side.
9 min: Mané gets booked for a flying tackle on Sangaré. The replay shows that he might be lucky to not get a red there as he really goes flying in.
The former Liverpool player has been involved in eight goals in his last eight Afcon matches.
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6 min: Senegal get a corner and Diatta swings it in and it’s cleared at the near post. The stadium is rocking. It’s hard to tell if it’s from the home fans or from the Senegalese, who have a big population in Ivory Coast, but one thing is clear – the Elephants are under pressure here.
GOAL! Senegal 1-0 Ivory Coast (H Diallo 4')
What a start for Senegal! It’s a fantastic cross from Mane after a nice turn and H Diallo chests it down and lashes a powerful shot into the roof of the net. There is no saving that and the hosts find themselves in trouble early on.
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2 min: Diallo puts a good ball in for Mané but the winger just can’t control the ball after doing well to get behind Ivory Coast’s backline.
1 min: Five changes for Ivory Coast since their last game, a rarity in tournament football. Remember, this is Emerse Faé’s first ever senior match as head coach after the federation sacked Gasset after the groups. The stakes could not be higher.
Kick-off: Senegal 0-0 Ivory Coast
Here we go!
The teams are out and the national anthems have been sung! Senegal in green and Ivory Coast in their famous orange.
The road to the final
We know Angola, Nigeria, Guinea, DR Congo and Cape Verde are through to the last eight. Will it be Senegal or Ivory Coast joining them?
#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/yuZ6ogEYNh
— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 29, 2024
The Senegalese fans are ready to be the 12th man as their team continues their bid to defend their title.
Le 12e gaindé en action 🔥 #SENCIV | #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/ZsDupZVGlV
— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) January 29, 2024
Some troubling news for Ghana fans. You’ll remember they had a disastrous tournament, getting knocked out at the group stages and it has now been revealed that the FA budgeted $8.5m USD for the tournament. That is $1.5m more than the prize money the winning team receives …
🚨 BREAKING:
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) January 29, 2024
Ghana budgeted $8.5 million for preparation and participation in #AFCON2023
Team was meant to prepare/camp in South Africa and aborted the idea due to public pressure. They settled on Kumasi instead.
Black Stars crashed out at group stage. https://t.co/4h3DbXdVWc
Jonathan Wilson’s latest Inside Football column examines the changing of the managerial guard at the Africa Cup of Nations, spearheaded by Aliou Cissé – and why the football is better for it.
A look into the archives – The Joy of Six: Africa Cup of Nations memorable moments
From Mike Smith leading Egypt’s triumph to Ivory Coast’s marathon shootout win and Zambia’s emotional 2012 success, half a dozen Afcon events to savour.
Five teams have already booked their spot in the quarter-finals.
Angola cruised through with a 3-0 victory against Namibia. They will face Nigeria, who booked their spot after beating Cameroon 2-0 in what is often dubbed the biggest football rivalry in modern sub-Saharan Africa.
In the Guinea derby, it was Guinea who scraped through with a 1-0 win against Equatorial Guinea. They face DR Congo, who beat Egypt 8-7 on penalties.
Earlier this evening, Cape Verde nicked a 1-0 win against Mauritania with an 88th minute penalty scored by their captain and all-time top scorer Ryan Mendes. A massive result for the Blue Sharks who make their first quarter-final appearance since their debut in the 2013 edition.
"WHAT A MISTAKE" 😲
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 29, 2024
Ryan Mendes scores the goal that could send Cape Verde through to the last eight! 👏️🔥 pic.twitter.com/wkVJozAOIv
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Team news
Senegal XI: Mendy, Koulibaly, Mané, Jakobs, Diatta, PM Sarr, I Sarr, Niakhaté, H Diallo, A Diallo, Camara.
Ivory Coast XI: Y Fofana, Konan, Seri, S Fofana, Kossounou, Krasso, Diakité, Gradel, Aurier, Sangaré, Ndicka.
Lineups for The Lions of Teranga & The Elephants are in. 🇸🇳🇨🇮#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #SENCIV pic.twitter.com/9X82Mz9tq0
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 29, 2024
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Preamble
Hosts Ivory Coast had a tumultuous group stage at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and their tricky run continues.
They started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau before falling short to Nigeria and being thumped, rather unexpectedly, 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea.
The tournament’s format allowed four of the six third-placed teams in the groups a spot in the knockouts. But because they put themselves in such a sticky situation, the Elephants had to wait until the final matchday to know whether they would face a disastrous group stage exit. Morocco’s 1-0 win against Zambia confirmed Ivory Coast’s spot in the last 16 by the skin of their teeth.
All this drama would be more than enough for anyone. But the Afcon powers that be have given Ivory Coast the ever so easy task of facing the defending champions Senegal tonight for a spot in the quarter-final. The last time Ivory Coast beat the Lions of Teranga was nine years ago.
Oh, and after the group stages the Ivorian Football Federation sacked their manager Jean-Louis Gasset. In the middle of the tournament. ‘What a mess’ is an understatement. But we love it.
Join me for kick-off in Yamoussoukro: 8pm GMT.
