There was a second miracle for Ivory Coast.
Qualified by a mouse hole for the round of 16 of its CAN, Côte d'Ivoire continues its journey.
By dominating Senegal on penalties (1-1 then 5-4), the Ivorians survived the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset after the group stage.
Marked by the hope of the arrival of the white wizard Hervé Renard, finally retained by the French Federation, the incredible week of the Ivorians ends with a smile.
Parachuted in as interim coach, Emerse Faé managed to reverse a trend that got off to a bad start after the terrifying exit against the modest Equatorial Guinea (4-0).
Against Senegal, reigning African champion and second African nation (19th) behind Morocco (11th) in the Fifa rankings, Ivory Coast had a nightmarish start to the match.
We then play the 4th minute and Habib Diallo already finds the net after a marvelous pass from Sadio Mané.
The sequence of control of the chest and half-volley strike from Diallo does the rest and Fofana, the Ivorian goalkeeper, can only note the damage (1-0, 4th).
[⚽️ GOAL VIDEO] 🏆 #beINCAN2023 #SENCIV
💥 Senegal showers Ivory Coast from the start!
✊ A fantastic cross from Sadio Mané, and a devastating sequence from Habib Diallo!
pic.twitter.com/rqsvWG3WYZ
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 29, 2024
Impressive during the first round with a flawless performance (Gambia 3-0, Cameroon 3-1, Guinea 2-0), the Senegalese seem to avoid the trap of a crazy match against the organizing country from the outset.
Leaving the monopoly of the ball to the Ivorians, they gently mastered a match which was decreasing in intensity.
Just before the break, the Lions of Teranga are on the verge of taking cover just after a new number from Mané, who serves Sarr, the OM striker.
Yahia Fofana is not surprised.
The second period begins like the first with a lot of pressure from the Senegalese.
But Fofana keeps the Elephants alive by countering Sarr (46th).
The Stade Charles-Konan-Banny in Yamoussoukro holds its breath when Sarr collapses in the area.
After consulting the VAR, the referee refuses the penalty to the Senegalese.
This fear has the gift of waking up the Ivorians who give everything at the end of the match.
Edouard Mendy pulls out all the stops in front of former Parisian Serge Aurier (74th) then Nicolas Pépé (76th).
The end of the match is unbearable, especially when Pépé is cut down by Mendy.
Everyone saw the penalty except the referee who, assisted by VAR, ended up blowing the whistle.
Franck Kessié capsizes a whole people by equalizing to snatch extension (1-1, 86th).
An extension which achieves nothing and it is in the lottery of penalties that Côte d'Ivoire escapes.
In the quarters, it is the winner of the Mali-Burkina Faso match who will be on the road to the organizing country, which is no longer a miracle.