IVORY COAST ERUPTS WITH JOY AFTER ADVANCING TO AFRICA NATIONS CUP QUARTER-FINALS – Team secures 5-4 win in a shootout
Days after facing elimination, Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) hosts Ivory Coast are advancing to the tournament’s quarter-finals, following their conquest of reigning champions Senegal in a penalty shootout.
Tension was high in Abidjan, the commercial capital, after Franck Kessie scored a late penalty to tie the game, and pressure mounted as the match went to penalties. Relief and joy came when Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate missed his shot, securing Ivory Coast’s 5-4 win in the shootout.
The city, previously quiet after earlier losses, buzzed with large and elaborate celebrations throughout the night on Monday, including massive dance parties at fan zones and supporters parading down the streets.
The Ivorians were in disarray just days ago. Hammered 4-0 in a record loss on home soil by Equatorial Guinea, they were on the verge of elimination and sacked coach Jean-Louis Gasset, replacing him with assistant Emerse Fae. They will now face the winner of Tuesday’s last-16 tie between Mali and Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
