Africa Cup of Nations - Round of 16
SenegalSenegal1Ivory CoastIvory Coast1
Ivory Coast win 5-4 on penalties

Afcon 2023: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast (aet, 4-5 on pens) - hosts oust holders on penalties

By Nishat LadhaBBC Sport Africa

Hosts Ivory Coast eliminated reigning champions Senegal in a penalty shootout to book their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Yamoussoukro.

Franck Kessie, who had scored from the spot four minutes from the end of normal time, converted the winning penalty to seal an extraordinary victory for the hosts, who redeemed themselves after a humiliating group-stage display which culminated in two defeats.

Senegal had made a dream start when Habib Diallo struck in the fourth minute from a Sadio Mane cross.

The Elephants' quarter-final on Saturday (17:00 GMT) will pit them against Mali or Burkina Faso, who play their last-16 tie in Korhogo on Tuesday (17:00 GMT).

Senegal's loss means no reigning champion has made it beyond the first knockout round of a Nations Cup finals since Egypt won a third consecutive title in 2010.

Ivory Coast, who squeezed into the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams from the group phase, grew into the match against the Teranga Lions, despite going behind so early.

Diallo, a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab, profited when Mane swung in an impeccable delivery from the left, bringing the ball down with his chest and firing it into the roof of the net to open the scoring.

Mane was lucky to escape with a caution for a rash challenge five minutes later on Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, who had to be stretchered off for treatment before coming back on.

The Elephants began to settle into the game after such a frenetic start, enjoying far more of the first-half possession and pushing for an equaliser, with Seko Fofana and Oumar Diakite both looking lively.

Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie celebrates with forward Christian Kouame after scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2023 round of 16 football match between Senegal and Ivory Coast at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro
Ivory Coast extended their perfect record against Senegal at the Afcon finals to three wins as they reached the quarter-finals in dramatic fashion

The 2015 champions trailed at half-time despite controlling play in a much-improved display on their sorry showing against Equatorial Guinea a week earlier, when they suffered their heaviest ever home defeat in a 4-0 trouncing.

Senegal started the second half as they had the first, Ismaila Sarr's shot across goal forcing a fingertip save from the diving Yahia Fofana.

Winger Sarr was again at the heart of the action when he felt he had been brought down in the box by Odilon Kossounou, with a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check deciding there was not enough contact for a penalty to be given.

Ivory Coast's interim coach Emerse Fae, an emergency appointment following the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset last week, brought on forward Sebastian Haller and midfielder Kessie - and the latter made an immediate impact, having a header saved by Edouard Mendy before failing to capitalise on the rebound.

Another substitute, former Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe, also brought a new energy to the hosts, running in behind on two occasions, only to shoot straight at Mendy.

And Pepe proved instrumental in Ivory Coast's equaliser when he was brought down by Mendy in the box.

Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho initially waved off appeals for a penalty, much to the frustration of the home fans and players.

VAR sent Atcho to the monitor - with Senegal coach Aliou Cisse and one of his assistants picking up a yellow card for their protestations.

Atcho reversed his decision, awarding a spot-kick to Ivory Coast which Kessie duly despatched to Mendy's left, sending Yamoussoukro's Charles Konan Banny Stadium into raptures.

After an absorbing 90 minutes, the first period of extra-time also proved eventful.

Ivory Coast, who had restored their self-respect by pushing the holders, saw two glorious chances go awry as Brighton winger Simon Adringa and Forest's Serge Aurier both missed the target.

At the other end, Mane latched onto a cross to force an instinctive save from Fofana.

Mane and Pepe were again involved in half-chances in the second period of extra-time but no winner could be found, with Haller, who has been on the comeback trail following an injury, also missing when given a sniff of goal during the dying seconds.

It was left to a penalty shootout to determine whether Senegal - the only side at this Nations Cup to have won all three of their group games - or Ivory Coast, who had never lost three matches in a row at a single tournament, would progress to the quarter-finals.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr both scored their penalties, with Nicolas Pepe and Christian Kouame matching their opponents.

But a miss from Moussa Niakhate handed Ivory Coast the advantage. Sebastien Haller and captain Serge Aurier then scored theirs as much of the crowd willed them on.

Bamba Dieng and then Mane kept the shootout alive for Senegal with Mane blasting his finish past Fofana.

But up stepped Kessie to deliver the ultimate redemption for the host nation, who march on to the quarter-finals.

Ivory Coast celebrate during the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2023 round of 16 football match between Senegal and Ivory Coast at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro
The 49th-ranked side in the world now have the chance to eclipse their run to the quarter-finals in 2019, having suffered a last-16 knockout at the 2021 tournament

Line-ups

Senegal

Formation 3-4-3

  • 16MendyBooked at 84mins
  • 3Koulibaly
  • 22DialloSubstituted forDiengat 118'minutes
  • 19Niakhaté
  • 15Diatta
  • 17Sarr
  • 25CamaraBooked at 72minsSubstituted forGueyeat 87'minutes
  • 14Jakobs
  • 18SarrSubstituted forNdiayeat 96'minutes
  • 20DialloBooked at 59minsSubstituted forJacksonat 67'minutes
  • 10ManéBooked at 9mins

Substitutes

  • 1Gomis
  • 2Mendy
  • 4Seck
  • 5Gueye
  • 6Mendy
  • 7Jackson
  • 8Kouyaté
  • 9Dieng
  • 11Ciss
  • 12Ballo-Touré
  • 13Ndiaye
  • 23Diaw

Ivory Coast

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Fofana
  • 17AurierBooked at 95mins
  • 7KossounouSubstituted forSingoat 116'minutes
  • 21Ndicka
  • 3Konan
  • 14DiakitéSubstituted forPépéat 65'minutes
  • 18SangaréSubstituted forKessiéat 73'minutes
  • 4SeriBooked at 90mins
  • 15GradelSubstituted forAdingraat 64'minutes
  • 6FofanaSubstituted forKouaméat 79'minutesBooked at 82mins
  • 11KrassoSubstituted forHallerat 73'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Singo
  • 8Kessié
  • 12Boly
  • 13Boga
  • 19Pépé
  • 20Kouamé
  • 22Haller
  • 23Sangaré
  • 24Adingra
  • 25Doumbia
  • 26Diallo
  • 27Amani
Referee:
Pierre Atcho
Attendance:
19,948

Match Stats

Home TeamSenegalAway TeamIvory Coast
Possession
Home43%
Away57%
Shots
Home13
Away8
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home6
Away2
Fouls
Home25
Away26

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Senegal 1(4), Côte d'Ivoire 1(5).

  2. Penalties over

    Penalty Shootout ends, Senegal 1(4), Côte d'Ivoire 1(5).

  3. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(4), Côte d'Ivoire 1(5). Franck Kessié (Côte d'Ivoire) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.

  4. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(4), Côte d'Ivoire 1(4). Sadio Mané (Senegal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.

  5. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(3), Côte d'Ivoire 1(4). Sèrge Aurier (Côte d'Ivoire) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.

  6. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(3), Côte d'Ivoire 1(3). Bamba Dieng (Senegal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  7. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(2), Côte d'Ivoire 1(3). Sébastien Haller (Côte d'Ivoire) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  8. Post update

    Penalty missed! Still Senegal 1(2), Côte d'Ivoire 1(2). Moussa Niakhaté (Senegal) hits the left post with a left footed shot.

  9. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(2), Côte d'Ivoire 1(2). Christian Kouamé (Côte d'Ivoire) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

  10. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(2), Côte d'Ivoire 1(1). Pape Sarr (Senegal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  11. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(1), Côte d'Ivoire 1(1). Nicolas Pépé (Côte d'Ivoire) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.

  12. Post update

    Goal! Senegal 1(1), Côte d'Ivoire 1. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.

  13. Penalties in progress

    Penalty Shootout begins Senegal 1, Côte d'Ivoire 1.

  14. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time ends, Senegal 1, Côte d'Ivoire 1.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Simon Adingra (Côte d'Ivoire).

  16. Post update

    Krépin Diatta (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Franck Kessié (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Ismail Jakobs (Senegal).

  19. Post update

    Franck Kessié (Côte d'Ivoire) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Sadio Mané (Senegal).

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

203 comments

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Equatorial Guinea32109367
2Nigeria32103127
3Ivory Coast310225-33
4Guinea-Bissau300327-50

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Cape Verde32107347
2Egypt30306603
3Ghana302156-12
4Mozambique302147-32

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Senegal33008179
2Cameroon311156-14
3Guinea311123-14
4Gambia300327-50

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Angola32106337
2Burkina Faso311134-14
3Mauritania310234-13
4Algeria302134-12

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Mali31203125
2South Africa31114224
3Namibia311114-34
4Tunisia302112-12

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Morocco32105147
2DR Congo30302203
3Zambia302123-12
4Tanzania302114-32
View full Africa Cup of Nations tables

Elsewhere on the BBC