AFCON 2023 Day 18 Reviews: End of the road for Blue Sharks, as Bafana Bafana prepare for Super Eagles showdown
(Made in Africa Sport) – Saturday came with much more Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) drama than we had anticipated, as the Bafana Bafana of South Africa saw out underdogs Cape Verde 2 – 1 through a penalty shootout that saw the Blue Sharks score one out of five spot-kicks. South African goalie Ronwen Williams was the hero of the fixture, saving all but one of the penalties he was faced with after the quarter final fixture ended goalless even in extra time.
The game was a myriad of missed chances, as both teams threatened without much to show for it. The Blue Sharks were missing the incisiveness that had marked their gameplay since the start of the AFCON 2023, as they went closest to opening the scoring in regular time when Gilson Tavares was denied by the upright after Williams got a hand to it.
The South Africans had much of the ball in extra time, no doubt due to the tiring Blue Sharks, but their keeper Josimar Vozinha was switched on to deny Mihlali Mayambela and Percy Tau enough to take the match to penalties. Apparently, those were not enough to keep the Blue Sharks’ fairytale run in Cote d’Ivoire alive, as they missed four of their spot-kicks to hand South Africa the ticket to the semifinals.
The Bafana Bafana have their work cutout in Bouake, as they go up against three-time AFCON winners and bitter rivals Nigeria in what seems to be a final before the final. The Super Eagles boast an impressive defensive run in the AFCON 2023, and they have completely outclassed their opponents since the group stage. With both teams almost level in terms of quality depth, Nigeria versus South Africa will definitely be a match to look forward to.
Earlier on Saturday, the AFCON 2023 hosts Cote d’Ivoire delivered a dramatic 2 – 1 performance that shocked the Eagles of Mali, displaying resilience that could see them go all the way. From being unlikely favourites to semifinalists, the Elephants have trudged through the knockouts with their eyes on the trophy, and their quarterfinal win simply showed that they wanted that trophy more.
Things looked turned south for the hosts, as Odilon Kossonou saw two yellow cards in the first half to hand the Eagles the advantage. This was after the defender conceded a penalty that Adama Traore failed to convert in the 16th minute. The Malians soon capitalized on the ten-man Ivorian team to take the lead in the 71st minute, as Nene Dorgeles weighed his options from about 40 yards out and unleashed a shot that left Yahia Fofana rooted to the spot.
The Ivorians gave it all they had from that point on, and got an extension to extra time thanks to substitute Simon Adingra’s sharp reactions in the box. The Brighton wingback reacted first to a blocked Seko Fofana shot in the 90th minute, tucking his finish tidily to level matters at the Peace stadium. There was little the Eagles could do from there, as the Elephants, being the more experienced side, showed their northern neighbours the ways of the knockout rounds.
It was substitute Omar Diakhite that handed the Ivorians their desired victory, as he diverted Seko Fofana’s weak drive from outside the box past Djigui Diarra in the first minute of stoppage time in extra time. The forward got sent off after a second yellow for taking off his shirt in celebrations and he will be missing the semifinals as a result.
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire will be taking on the Leopards of DR Congo for their semi final fixture on Wednesday, 7 February 2024, as Nigeria battles South Africa. The AFCON 2023 is down to 4 teams, from 24, and we will have our podium finishers ready by the end of the weekend.
For now, we have the semis to look forward to.
𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝙈𝙄-𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇𝙎! 🔥
Four teams. One aim. ✨#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/YGNyqzUsDc
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 3, 2024
