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Ivory Coast's midfielder #6 Seko Fofana (R) fights for the ball with Mali's midfielder #8 Diadie Samassekou during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 quarter-final football match between Mali and Ivory Coast at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on February 3, 2024. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Mali 1-2 Côte d’Ivoire: Diakite strikes at death to trample Eagles against the odds

Review

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Quarter-finals

Mali
Côte d’Ivoire
1 - 2
Final Score
Nene Dorgeles - 1 (71')
Simon Adingra - 1 (90')Oumar Diakité - 1 (120+2')
Game Statistics
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
0 Shots on Goal 0
0 Saves 0
0 Corner Kick 0
0
Shot Accuracy
0
Pass Accuracy
Fouls
0
Offsides
0
0
Shot Accuracy
0
Pass Accuracy
0
Fouls
0
Offsides
Ball Possession
61%
39%
Game Timeline
KO
KO
7. Odilon Kossounou
16'
20. Christian Kouamé
33'
17. Serge Aurier
37'
21. Adama Traoré
39'
7. Odilon Kossounou
43'
7. Odilon Kossounou
43'
4. Amadou Haidara
45+3'
8. Diadie Samassékou
71'
27. Nene Dorgeles
71'
11. Lassana Coulibaly
80'
24. Simon Adingra
90'
2. Hamari Traoré
120+5'
6. Seko Fofana
120+2'
14. Oumar Diakité
120+2'
14. Oumar Diakité
120+3'
FT

(AFP) Ten-man Côte d’Ivoire scored in the final minutes of regulation and extra time to confirm their place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals for the first time since 2015,  beating Mali 2-1 on home soil.

Penalties were crucial to Côte d’Ivoire’s progression to the final eight against Senegal, now in the opening stages here that same drama threatened their exit from their home tournament.

The first major decision landed at referee Mohamed Adel’s feet after eight minutes when Odilon Kossounou’s outstretched arm blocked an Amadou Haidara shot at close range.

His immediate reaction was no penalty and so a four-minute VAR review commenced, ending with the original call standing after a trip to the monitor – Haidara initially being offside the reason.

Mali were enraged, yet their mood quickly brightened when a spot-kick was given at the second time of asking, this time after Kossounou bundled into Lassine Sinayoko in the box. Up stepped Adama Traoré, though his effort from 12 yards was expertly read by Yahia Fofana, who saved low to his left.

For his role in the second incident, Kossounou had been shown a yellow card. It was on the defender to avoid any unwanted attention, though that was ultimately easier said than done as the Eagles maintained relentless pressure on their opponents.

A mistake from Jean Michaël Seri left his already-booked teammate to deal with Sinayoko bearing down on goal, again resulting in a clumsy challenge on the edge of the box as Kossounou was dismissed.

This left a few remaining minutes plus an extended stoppage time for Mali to grab an unlikely opener before half time given the history of this fixture, but it remained 0-0 at the break for the fourth time in six head to head.

Having taken in that nightmare first period, the Elephants’ interim boss Emerse Faé could only respond by rolling out personnel changes and switching to a pragmatic approach.

It made them difficult to break down though in turn, Éric Chelle in the opposite dugout turned to Nene Dorgeles – who has Ivorian roots – for inspiration.

With 19 minutes remaining, the 21-year-old produced a glorious curling finish from outside of the area into the top-right corner to stun the Stade de la Paix, following up with muted celebrations.

They finished third in their group, required penalties in the last round and once again facing the prospect of exiting AFCON on home soil, a desperate final push was required to rescue 10-man Côte d’Ivoire.

When two headed opportunities went amiss it seemed their luck had run out, however, in the 90th minute, an equaliser was crafted out of nothing to send the tie into extra time.

Seko Fofana’s first attempt from 18 yards pinballed off two defenders before falling to Simon Adringa, who clinically dispatched into the top left corner from close range.

In the 30 additional minutes both sides brought the same intensity as the prior 90, but as it unfolded both momentum and history favoured the home nation.

Sébastien Haller first came close when striking the bar with a header, then just as it seemed penalties would be required, a winner was found in stoppage time at the end of extra time.

In the most dramatic fashion, another Fofana shot crept through a crowded penalty area and was flicked in Oumar Diakite. The home support went wild, tempers flared at full time as Diakite and Hamari Traore were shown red cards each, and critically it will be Côte d’Ivoire that face the Democratic Republic of Congo for a place in the final.

Results

Team1st Half2nd HalfGoalsPossessionOutcome
Mali01161Loss
Côte d’Ivoire01239Win

MAN OF THE MATCH

MATCH STATISTICS

TEAM SHEETS

Mali

16Djigui Diarra Goalkeeper
6Sikou Niakaté Defender
5Boubakar Kouyaté Defender
17Falaye Sacko Defender
2Hamari Traoré Defender 120+5'
8Diadie Samassékou Midfielder 71'
26Kamory Doumbia Midfielder
11Lassana Coulibaly Midfielder 80'
4Amadou Haidara Midfielder 45+3'
25Lassine Sinayoko Forward
21Adama Traoré Midfielder 39'
19Fousseni Diabaté Forward
27Nene Dorgeles Forward 71'
24Boubacar Traoré Midfielder
15Mamadou Fofana Defender
10Yves Bissouma Midfielder
9Ibrahim Sissoko Forward
  1 1 3 1 4 1 30 8 25 9 1 631 86.7 547 847 24 30 21 151 72 20

Côte d’Ivoire

1Yahia Fofana Goalkeeper
3Ghislain Konan Defender
21Evan Ndicka Defender
17Serge Aurier Defender 37'
7Odilon Kossounou Defender 16', 43'
43'
8Franck Kessié Midfielder
6Seko Fofana Midfielder 120+2'
4Jean Michaël Seri Midfielder
15Max Gradel Forward
19Nicolas Pépé Forward
20Christian Kouamé Forward 33'
5Wilfried Singo Defender
22Sébastien Haller Forward
12Willy Boly Defender
14Oumar Diakité Forward 120+2'
120+3'
24Simon Adingra Forward 90'
  2 1 4 2 3 3 18 10 100 9 389 77.4 301 613 12 24 17 151 79 21

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