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In a thrilling AFCON encounter, hosts Ivory Coast secured a spot in the quarter-finals by defeating defending champions Senegal in a penalty shootout. The match saw an early lead for Senegal through Habib Diallo’s superb fourth-minute goal, but Ivory Coast fought back, with Franck Kessie netting the crucial equalizing penalty after a VAR-reviewed foul by Edouard Mendy.
Despite Mendy’s earlier pivotal saves, the game went into extra time without any additional goals. The eventual outcome was determined by a penalty shootout, where The Elephants emerged victorious with a 5-4 scoreline.
The Ivory Coast team, facing managerial upheaval after the sudden sacking of Jean-Louis Gasset, displayed resilience and unity to eliminate the tournament favorites.
Senegal’s captain, Sadio Mane, played a role in Diallo’s early goal but missed a crucial opportunity to secure the lead in the 77th minute, contributing to his team’s exit from the competition.
Looking ahead, Ivory Coast is set to face the winner of the Mali vs. Burkina Faso match in the quarter-final scheduled for February 3 at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
