Ivory Coast delivered a stunning performance to secure a spot in the final four of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Mali.
The dramatic match featured a missed penalty by Adama Traore, a second-half goal by Nene Dorgeles, a last-minute equalizer by Simon Adingra, and a decisive extra-time winner by Oumar Diakite.
Despite being a man down, Ivory Coast managed to pull off an astonishing comeback in extra time. The hosts, who had previously advanced through a penalty shootout against Senegal in the first-round knockout match, faced a resilient Mali side that had defeated Burkina Faso 2-1.
The first half was marked by chaos, with Sikou Niakate’s penalty appeal for handball turned down due to offside. Odilon Kossounou conceded a penalty for a foul on Lassine Sinayoko, but Adama Traore’s miss kept the score level.
Just before halftime, Kossounou’s desperate foul on Sinayoko resulted in a red card, leaving Ivory Coast with a weakened side.
In the second half, Nene capitalized on the opportunity and fired in a brilliant strike from 30 yards out to take the lead. However, the game took another twist as Simon Adingra managed to score an injury-time equalizer.
With no breakthrough in extra time, the match seemed destined for penalties. In a knockout blow during added time of extra time, Oumar Diakite secured the victory for Ivory Coast, although he was also shown a red card in the frantic finish to the match.
Ivory Coast’s journey in the tournament has been marked by challenges, including the decision to sack their manager in the group stages.
However, their determination and resilience have seen them through, and Diakite’s decisive goal added a touch of the ridiculous to their remarkable journey.
At this stage, it is indeed hard to bet against Ivory Coast as they continue to defy the odds and captivate their fans.
