Hard-fighting Elephants of Ivory Coast blew up Mali to book their place in the final four of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations following a dramatic 2-1 win over resilient Mali.
Following Adama Traore’s missed penalty for Mali, Nene Dorgeles thought his second half goal secured the win. However, Simon Adingra levelled in the last minute before Oumar Diakite took centre stage as the match looked to be heading for penalties.
Ivory Coast pulled off an astonishing extra-time comeback win despite being a man down as they beat Mali 2-1 Saturday evening.
The hosts needed a penalty shootout to get past Senegal in their first-round knockout match, while Mali beat Burkina Faso 2-1.
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The first half was marked by chaos as Sikou Niakate had a penalty appeal for handball turned down as he was offside, before Odilon Kossouna conceded one for a foul on Lassine Sinayoko, only for Adama Traore to miss.
Just before half-time, Sinayoko brought another desperate foul from the Kossouno, who saw red.
As the weakened side tired, Nene found room to fire in a brilliant strike from 30 yards out to take the lead, but with the game almost over, Simon Adingra prodded home an injury-time equaliser.
With no breakthrough in extra time the match seemed to be set for penalties before a knockout blow from Oumar Diakite in extra-time added time.
