- Penalty shootouts sent Teranga Lions packing
- Defending champions’ jinx continues
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – What an incredible scene of massive celebrations from almost everyone in the stadium! With the decisive penalty taker, Franck Kessie, a 73rd-minute substitute for the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, running straight to salute the fans, the Ivorian bench went crazy.
The turnaround was breathtaking and wow from all angles. Just a few days back, the Elephants were considered down and out even by their most ardent supporters but suddenly, they did the impossible.
They pulled off a major upset by knocking out defending champions Teranga Lions of Senegal 5-4 on penalties to advance to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 clash ended one-all after regulation and extra time.
Keeping alive their hopes of retaining the continental crown, the Senegalese Lions roared into an early lead through Habib Diallo’s 4th-minute strike from Sadio Mane’s cross.
However, the Elephants refused to be cowed in front of their passionate home fans in Yamoussoukro and their doggedness finally paid off in the 86th minute when Franck Kessie coolly converted from the penalty spot after the defending champions committed a foul in their 18-yard box.
Coming into this last-16 clash against star-studded Senegal, few people had banked on the Elephants to progress in the championship. But led by captain Serge Aurier, the spirited hosts fought until the end and rode their luck at times against profligate opponents.
With the scores leveled after extra time, the tie went to a shootout. The result blows the tournament wide open with the defending champions out, and the unfancied hosts marching on in dramatic style.
For sure, Coach Emerse Faé, overseeing his first-ever match in charge as a senior manager following the sack of Coach Jean-Louis Gasset by the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), will treasure this outing for a long time to come. What a baptism of fire and incredible performance by his men and so the host nation marches on sensationally.
However, for the team in green, it was uncontrollable tears on the night. Teranga Lions’ Ahmadou Dieng, who came on as a substitute in the 118th minute, repeatedly wiped tears from his eyes while 19 shirt Moussa Niakhaté was inconsolable as the only Senegalese player who missed his spot kick.
Mendes Penalty Sends Cape Verde Into Quarter-Finals
In the first match of the day, a late penalty by hard-working Captain, Ryan Mendes gave Blue Sharks of Cape Verde a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mauritania to book their place in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
The tense last-16 clash decided at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan saw both sides deadlocked at 0-0 as the game entered the closing stages. The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute when Mauritania keeper Babacar Niasse brought down Gilson Tavares in the box.
Skipper Mendes stepped up to smash home the penalty and make it 1-0 for Cape Verde, who won their first knockout game ever at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. They lost 2-0 against Ghana in 2013 and against Senegal in the 2021 edition).
With their performance so far, the Blue Sharks have won three of their last four AFCON encounters and drawn one (D1). On record, they have more victories than in their first 11 outings in the past tournaments – six (6) draws and three (3) losses.
Defending Champions Jinx Continues
Interestingly, the jinx stretches on as the defending champions, Senegal crashed out of the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations tagged ‘Cote d’Ivoire 2023’.
For now, history continues to repeat itself because, since Egypt in 2010, no defending AFCON title holders have qualified for the quarter-finals of the continental tournament. – With agency reports
The Roll Call Of Casualties So Far!
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
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
