Defending champions Senegal have been knocked out by hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 AFCON round of 16 clash on Monday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Cote d’Ivoire, who qualified from the AFCON 2023 group stage as one of the best third-place teams, played their best game yet to send the 2021 Champions out.
Senegal made a bright start to the game when Habib Diallo fired home from a Sadio Mane cross to hand the Lions of Teranga the lead in the fourth minute.
Aliou Cisse’s side dominated play from that moment on and could have added more, if not for some vital intervention in the box of the hosts defence.
When Ivory Coast, led by a new man, got their acts together, they still found it difficult to break down the resolute backline of the Senegalese side who looked determined to defend the title they won in 2021 at the 2023 AFCON.
Meanwhile, Mane should have been sent off in the half for a rash challenge on Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, but he was lucky to walk away with just a yellow card.
Cote d’Ivoire managed to seize control in the final stages but they couldn’t create any goal scoring chance as the half came to an end.
After the break, the Elephants emerged with a different zeal and they were able to peg the champions back as they kept pushing for the equalizer.
The introduction of Nicolas Pepe, Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller changed the dynamics of the game as goalscoring chances started coming their way.
Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy initially denied Pepe before fouling the former Arsenal man in the area. Fellow substitute Kessie was handed the task and he comfortably dispatched the spotkick to drag his side level.
The two sides could not be separated in one of the AFCON 2023 clash of giants at the end of regulation time and extra time, requiring penalties to determine the winner. Only Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate missed from the shootout before Kessie struck the winner to send the hosts through.
The Elephants will face the winner between Burkina Faso and Mali in the quarter-final of the 2023 AFCON on February 3.
In the day’s other round of 16 clash played at Felix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Cape Verde edged Mauritania 1-0 courtesy of Ryan Mendes’ late penalty.
And the 27-year-old delivered once again with the crucial kick to seal a 5-4 win in the shoot-out after Moussa Niakhate had missed his earlier effort for the favourites. More news and updates here… https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/franck-kessie-steps-up-for-ivory-coast-to-knock-out-holders-senegal-on-penalties