A New Miracle for Côte d'Ivoire as They Eliminate Senegal and Secure a Spot in the Quarters

The Ivorians summoned the necessary resilience to overturn the Lions, who had dominated the match for an extended period. Unbelievable, Côte d'Ivoire! In these trying times, being a supporter of Côte d'Ivoire with cardiac concerns would be unwise. This team, resurrected miraculously to qualify for the Round of 16, once again defied the fate of elimination. The Elephants were on the brink of exiting the CAN tournament before the miracle unfolded in the 82nd minute, taking the form of a penalty caused by Édouard Mendy, previously faultless.

And everything changed! Kessié converted the penalty, equalizing for Côte d'Ivoire, trailing since the fourth minute. The unthinkable was about to happen, and Franck Kessié would assume the unlikely role of the hero. Franck Kessié, demoted captain on the bench, saved Côte d'Ivoire by successfully converting the penalty of hope and the final penalty kick. Before that moment, before the strike that would plunge Ivorian supporters into a joy they won't soon forget, Senegal had long believed they would sail through the Round of 16 unscathed. It took only three minutes and 15 seconds for Habib Diallo and Senegal to take the lead, casting doubt on the Ivorians from the outset. The Elephants had entered this Round of 16 against the reigning African champions with the firm intention to "display a different face." "We must show that we are Côte d'Ivoire. It would be unacceptable if attitudes do not change," declared the new coach, Emerse Faé, the day before.

But with just a touch on the right side of the defense, a feint followed by a cross from Sadio Mané, Habib Diallo lowered the temperature several degrees in the Charles-Konan-Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro. A chest control, followed by a left-footed shot, resulted in the opening goal for the former Strasbourg player (4th minute). An ideal start for the Lions, the worst-case scenario for the Ivorians. Or so it seemed...

"As the saying goes, 'It's with old pots that we make the best sauces,'" says an Ivorian tropicalized proverb. Against Senegal, Emerse Faé, the new coach of a miraculously qualified Côte d'Ivoire for the Round of 16, concocted a recipe with ingredients from the past, likely indigestible for the Lions, voracious since the beginning of the CAN. Exit Captain Franck Kessié, benched, the same fate for the dynamic Jérémie Boga and the still tender Christian Kouamé. Enter the veterans Serge Aurier and Max-Alain Gradel, the last African champions in 2015, and Jean-Michaël Seri, former captain of the Elephants approaching his tenth year in the national team. The old guard did not transform a clumsy Ivorian team in attack, unsteady in defense, but they surely did what was necessary to prevent Senegal from pulling away and keep Côte d'Ivoire's hope alive. Niakhaté misses his penalty

Senegal, calm, too calm, decided to let the ball to their opponent after taking the lead to better control and counter. They could have punished the Ivorians and ended all suspense, but it was ultimately Faé's men who would fight back. Aliou Cissé's men were starting to feel the pressure. First on an action where Édouard Mendy had to make a double save (73rd minute). The same Mendy saved the Lions by winning his one-on-one against Nicolas Pépé, while a minute earlier, Sadio Mané had the potential knockout ball.

And then came the equalizing penalty. And then the extra time, plunging this previously one-sided encounter into another dimension. Extreme tension, nervousness, stress... Both teams are now on the edge of elimination. The Senegalese are as fearful as the Ivorians now. The match could swing either way, but it all comes down to the penalty shootout. Moussa Niakahté, the third Senegalese shooter, sees his attempt hit the post. The rest, Franck Kessié writes it...

A stadium in eruption, fans in seventh heaven. Côte d'Ivoire, coming from nowhere, should no longer restrain itself; it is in the quarterfinals and will play against the winner of Mali-Burkina Faso. Now, it has regained control of its destiny, restored confidence, and has no intention of stopping on such a promising path.