Hosts Ivory Coast shocked Senegal on the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, knocking out the reigning champions on penalties within the final 16 to maintain their hopes of successful the title on house soil alive. Every week in the past it regarded as if the Ivorians had been set for a humiliating group-stage exit from their very own AFCON, however now they’re into the quarter-finals after beating Senegal 5-4 on penalties following a tie that completed 1-1 on the finish of additional time.

The Elephants scraped into the knockout part with the worst report of the 4 finest third-placed sides to advance, after ending the primary spherical with a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, their heaviest ever house defeat.

They adopted that by sacking veteran French coach Jean-Louis Gasset and making an attempt unsuccessfully to usher in former boss Herve Renard on a short-term deal.

But as an alternative former participant Emerse Fae was appointed on an interim foundation, hoping to awaken a shell-shocked staff for a frightening tie in opposition to the holders.

It regarded like being a making an attempt night for Ivory Coast in Yamoussoukro as Senegal went forward within the fourth minute when Habib Diallo introduced down Sadio Mane‘s cross from the left and completed emphatically.

Mane then escaped with a yellow card for a harmful problem on Ibrahim Sangare quickly after, though Senegal additionally felt exhausting accomplished by early within the second half.

Ismaila Sarr went down within the field in a tangle of legs with Odilon Kossounou, however no penalty was given and the referee didn’t come throughout to overview the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Kessie the hero

Instead, it was the Ivorians who gained a late penalty of their very own, a VAR overview displaying that Nicolas Pepe was chopped down by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Franck Kessie of Saudi membership Al Ahli, who was dropped to the bench at kick-off, transformed the penalty to drive additional time.

With no additional scoring, it got here right down to penalties, and Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate was the one participant to overlook, seeing his effort strike the submit.

Kessie then netted the decisive kick to take Ivory Coast by way of to a last-eight tie in opposition to Mali or Burkina Faso within the central metropolis of Bouake on Saturday.

Neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso conflict within the final 16 within the northern metropolis of Korhogo on Tuesday.

“We are feeling a lot of emotion,” Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller advised broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique.

“The last few days have not been easy but we had to believe in ourselves.”

Senegal exit after being the one staff to win all three video games throughout the group stage, and their elimination means no reigning champion has made it past the primary knockout spherical of a Cup of Nations since Egypt gained a 3rd consecutive title in 2010.

Mauritania run ended

Earlier on Monday, Cape Verde gained an AFCON knockout tie for the primary time of their historical past as a late Ryan Mendes penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in Abidjan.

The tie was drifting in the direction of additional time when Cape Verde gained a spot-kick as substitute Gilson Tavares Benchimol was introduced down within the field by Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse.

Captain Mendes then transformed with simply two minutes of the 90 remaining to interrupt the resistance of a Mauritania aspect showing within the knockout part for the primary time.

Cape Verde advance to a quarter-final on Saturday in Yamoussoukro in opposition to both Morocco or South Africa, who meet within the final 16 on Tuesday in San-Pedro.

The tiny Atlantic Ocean island nation had obtained out of their group in two of their three earlier appearances on the AFCON, however had by no means earlier than gained a knockout tie.

“We are proud of everything we have done up to now. We always tried to win the game and we thoroughly deserved the victory,” mentioned Cape Verde coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito, who believes his aspect can go additional nonetheless within the match.

“We have our objective, which from day one has been to get to the semi-finals.

“We are one step away from that now and we’re going to hold going, whereas clearly staying humble and respecting our opponents, however we consider. That is our focus and we’re going to attempt to get there.”

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