Cote d’Ivoire secured a spot in the quarterfinals after a nail-biting victory over defending champions Senegal, winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Just a week ago, the Elephants faced a 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea and relied on Morocco’s 1-0 win against Zambia to sneak into the round of 16. The team faced challenges with the departure of their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, and the installation of Emerse Fae after the France Football Federation denied a loan request for former manager Herve Renard.
In a dramatic turnaround, Cote d’Ivoire showcased resilience against Senegal, who took an early lead with a goal from Habib Diallo. Despite a controversial high challenge by Sadio Mane, the Elephants regrouped and intensified their efforts.
The turning point came in the 85th minute when Edouard Mendy’s challenge on Nicolas Pepe led to a penalty, expertly converted by Franck Kessie. The match went into extra time, but no winner emerged, leading to a tense penalty shootout.
Ultimately, Cote d’Ivoire emerged victorious, with Senegal’s Moussa Niakhaté being the only player to miss a penalty. The Elephants now look ahead to the quarterfinal clash against Mali or Burkina Faso at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.