January 30, (THEWILL) – The Ivory Coast national football team orchestrated a dramatic comeback victory over defending Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), champions Senegal, on Sunday, beating the favourites in a penalty shootout after extra time.
The hosts got off to a dreadful start, falling behind just four minutes into the match when Senegal captain Sadio Mané set up Habib Diallo for the opening goal. The Lions of Teranga continued to dominate early and Mané was fortunate to avoid a red card for a hard tackle shortly after. However, Ivory Coast gradually fought their way back into the game, controlling possession for much of the remainder en route to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes. Neither side could break the deadlock in extra time either.
In the decisive penalty shootout that followed, Borussia Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller, who was brought on as a second-half substitute, made an immediate impact despite not scoring. His presence seemed to galvanise the Elephants, leading to chances for Franck Kessié and Nicolas Pépé. Kessié would later convert the pivotal spot kick to equalise in the 85th minute.
The midfielder then calmly slotted the winning penalty, while Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate struck the post with his attempt to seal the famous victory. Ivory Coast will now advance to face either Mali or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The hard-fought win keeps the dream of a 3rd AFCON title alive for the hosts. After the group stage disappointment and coaching change earlier in the week, not many expected the Elephants to topple the pre-tournament favourites. Yet, interim manager Emerse Faé has quickly imprinted his style, spurring the team to new heights.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
