Decidedly, Sierra Leone is tough in this CAN. After hanging Algeria (0-0), the Leone Stars snatched another draw once morest Côte d’Ivoire (2-2). With this draw, Mohamed Kamara’s teammates can still believe in qualification, in this fairly strong group. However, all had not started well for them. Indeed, the top scorer in the Champions League, Sébastien Haller, opened the scoring (25th, 1-0), thanks to a perfect counter-foot. Yet dominating, the Ivorians were surprised by Musa Kamara (55th, 1-1), author of a high-class sequence to equalize.
Badra Ali Sangaré, hero in spite of himself
Then it was a former Ligue 1 player who showed up. After the hour mark (65th, 2-1), Nicolas Pepe landed a shot with his left foot to restore the advantage to his team. He certainly thought that with this goal, he would give victory to his team once morest Sierra Leone. But that was without counting the huge dumpling of his teammate. In additional time (90th + 4, 2-2), Côte d’Ivoire offered a gift to their evening opponent. After a header from an Ivorian defender, goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangaré incomprehensibly released the ball in front of his goal, allowing Alhadji Kamara to equalise. A big blow for the Elephants who concede the draw, and who lost their goalkeeper, injured, on this action. The unlucky goalkeeper was replaced by Ivorian defender and captain Serge Aurier for the final seconds.
Both nations will play their survival in this competition in the final game. The Ivorians will face Algeria, while Sierra Leone will challenge Equatorial Guinea.