What a match, what suspense… and what an outcome! While it was almost eliminated three days ago and still led this Monday evening, the Ivory Coast came back from the Vauvert Devil to stay in the tournament and, above all, eliminate the big favorite of the competition and defending champion, the Senegal (1-1, 5-4 t.a.b).
But this match was indecisive until the end. However, at the start, Senegal honored its status as favorites, taking control of the match after five minutes, thanks to Habib Dialloserved by Sadio Mane (1-0).
Unfortunately for them, the Lions of Teranga never managed to score the break goal and therefore exploded when the Ivorians woke up. A burst of pride which materialized after the traditional waltz of changes in the 2nd half.
Went to the game a few minutes earlier, Sébastien Haller et Nicolas Pepe together caused a penalty at the very end of the match, which Franck Kessiealso a substitute at kick-off, was responsible for converting.
Coming out of nowhere at the dawn of stoppage time, the reinvigorated Ivory Coast took Senegal into a perilous extra time then into a terrible penalty shootout. And in the middle of a festival of successful shots, it is finally the Senegalese Moussa Niakhate who was responsible for donning the mantle of unfortunate hero, his delivery hitting the post for the only miss of the session.
At the end of the night and the suspense, Côte d’Ivoire qualifies for the quarter-finals of this decidedly completely crazy CAN 2023. And to think that a few days ago, the Ivorians were almost eliminated and had even sacked their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset.
It just goes to show that football can sometimes go very quickly. In one direction, as in the other. It will not be the Senegalese, eliminated, who will tell you the opposite.