ReutersIvory Coast cheers after Kessié’s decisive goal
NOS Voetbal•Monday, 20:05•Adjusted yesterday, 00:14
Ivory Coast has qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Cup at the expense of Senegal. After a 1-1 in regular time and after extra time, penalties had to decide. These were all used by the Ivorians, but due to a Senegalese miss, Ivory Coast is now through and the title holder is out.
For a long time, the match in Yamoussoukro seemed to be the last of the tournament for home country Ivory Coast: Senegal led until shortly before the end. But in the end, coach Emerse Faé was the celebrated man. He succeeded Jean-Louis Gasset, who was dismissed after the group stage of the African Cup.
Ivory Coast will play the winner of the match between Mali and Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals.
AFPDiallo celebrates his beautiful 1-0
The reigning African champions scored in the fourth minute. Sadio Mané passed to Habib Diallo, who received the ball and shot hard into the cross: 1-0.
Five minutes later, Senegal was almost down to ten men. But a hard foul by Mané was punished with ‘only’ yellow. The tackle meant that Ibrahim Sangaré had to be taken off the field on a stretcher, but the former PSV player was able to continue playing.
Ivory Coast then looked for a quick equalizer, but Senegal had little trouble staying on their feet. Edouard Mendy had to make the first save after 40 minutes by stopping Seko Fofana.
ReutersSenegalese fans in Ivory Coast
Ten minutes after the break, Senegal begged for a penalty after Odilon Kossounou ran over Ismaila Sarr in the box. Referee Pierre Atcho from Gabon didn’t like it and the VAR agreed. Sébastien Haller came on as a substitute for Ivory Coast in the last twenty minutes. He came on together with Franck Kessié, who immediately had a chance to score.
At the other end, Mané had a chance, he fired a pulled ball about eleven meters over the goal. Ivory Coast also claimed a penalty ten minutes before the end. Christian Kouame was tackled by goalkeeper Mendy. Initially, Kouamé himself was given a yellow card, but after consulting VAR images, referee Atcho still pointed to the spot. Kessié scored: 1-1.
AFPKessié uses a penalty and signs for 1-1
After that there was no more scoring and so it was extended. In the first extra time, Ivory Coast was the first to have a chance, but Serge Aurier’s shot just flew past the wrong side of the post. Senegal also had an opportunity to score, but Diallo’s bicycle kick went well over and Mané also failed to score when he appeared in front of goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
In the second extra time, both teams went for the win, but the finishing was too sloppy and so a penalty shootout had to decide. The first four hit the target, the fifth was shot against the post by the Senegalese Moussa Niakhate. After that, all penalties were scored, including another one from Kessié. He made the decisive one.
‘Rotterdam’ through Cape Verde
Cape Verde has reached the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations. The team with four born Rotterdammers in the selection defeated Mauritania 1-0. The goal came from a penalty just before the end.
AFPRyan Mendes is overjoyed with his winning goal
Cape Verde will play Morocco or South Africa in the quarter-finals. The eighth final is scheduled for Tuesday.
In Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the ‘Rotterdam Cape Verdeans’ Deroy Duarte and Jamiro Monteiro were in the starting line-up. Duarte was substituted in the second half, Garry Rodrigues just came on. Laros Duarte did not take action.
ReutersJamiro Monteiro (in white) had a starting place
Mauritania had surprisingly won against Algeria in the group stage and finished as one of the best numbers three. Cape Verde qualified as group winner and achieved seven points in a group with Egypt, Mozambique and Ghana.
There were few real chances in the first half. In the second half there was slightly more threat from both teams. The biggest chance came after almost an hour of play for Mauritania. Souleymane Anne was able to shoot freely on goal from close range, but his shot went over the crossbar.
Ziyech doubtful at Morocco
For Morocco, which will decide with South Africa on Tuesday who will play Cape Verde in the quarter-finals, Hakim Ziyech is a doubt. He received a kick on his ankle in the match against Zambia and is still suffering from it. The national coach of Morocco says he will do everything he can to have the man from Dronten appear at the kick-off.
The match ignited in the final phase. In the 78th minute there was a great chance for Cape Verde: substitute Garry Rodrigues took a vicious swing, but his shot was turned away and the rebound could not be put in. Shortly afterwards, Ryan Mendes had a good heading opportunity for the Cape Verdeans, but keeper Babacar Niasse was able to save the effort.
In the 87th minute, substitute Gilson Benchimol intercepted a ball. The Cape Verdean striker was then knocked down by the keeper and so there was a penalty for Cape Verde just before the end. The penalty was shot in by Mendes via the keeper.
In the ten minutes of extra time that was awarded, both teams threatened a few times, but no more goals were scored.
