It's a match with incredible twists and turns, where the host country of the African Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast, offers itself a new miracle against Mali (2-1, ap) to reach the semi-finals SATURDAY.
But it was also a meeting that ended in tension, at the end of extra time, with two red cards.
The first inflicted on the scorer of the victory in the last seconds (120th + 2), Oumar Diakité, punished with a second yellow card for having taken off his jersey while celebrating his achievement.
The second was addressed to the Malian captain, Hamari Traoré.
The fault of the former right side of Rennes, future opponent of PSG in the Champions League with Real Sociedad?
Having come, in the company of several partners, to surround very closely the referee of the meeting, Mohamed Adel, to obtain explanations.
Except that the Egyptian whistle did not appreciate the initiative at all, and virulently pushed back the Eagles defender.
Before sending him off after the final whistle, the third red of the match after that of Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou at the end of the first period.
It got really heated between Hamari Traoré and Sébastien Haller at the end of the match 🇲🇱🇨🇮#beINCAN2023 #beINEXPERIENCE #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/AoUHmWKy0M
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) February 3, 2024
Hamari Traoré then exchanged a few words with the Elephants striker, Sébastien Haller.
A tense discussion, broadcast on X, formerly Twitter, by the beIN Sports channel after the meeting.
Mohamed Adel was forced to leave the pitch escorted by security at the Bouaké stadium.
With this victory, Ivory Coast can still dream of a coronation at home.
She will face the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday in the semi-final.