At ten o’clock, Côte d’Ivoire defeated Mali and joined the DRC in the semi-finals

Published on: 03/02/2024 – 20:45Modified: 03/02/2024 – 20:55

4 minutes

From our special correspondent in Bouaké,

In the qualifiers section, the stock will finally run out to define this team Ivory Coast In this CAN. Crazy, incredible, massive, indestructible and all that can be considered as dictionary words to define this colossal feat achieved by the Immers Fae team. On Saturday, against Mali, we went beyond the miracle, we are still searching for words to talk about this magnificent upset against Mali, who had everything to go to the semi-finals.

First there was this image…we don’t remember seeing Fay run so fast on the field when he was playing in the French Championship (Nantes, Nice). We are hardly exaggerating. In the heat of Bouake and the cauldron of the Stade de la Paix, the Ivorian coach rushed to an unknown destination when his team equalized through Simon Edingra (90th). As darkness settled over Buake, covering the last hopes of the Ivorians trailing 1-0 and down to 10, Simon Edingra came out and almost single-handedly did the job. The Brighton striker (Premier League) equalized in indescribable atmosphere, melting the stadium.

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Once again Ivory Coast has come back from nowhere. Such as during his miraculous qualification after the first round and his victory on penalties in the eighth against Senegal. The best came with this major from Oumar Diakite at the end of extra time (120th) after Seko Fofana’s strike. Diakite, in tears after the first round defeat against Equatorial Guinea (0-4) when the Elephants were on the doorstep of their CAN. The tears were for the opposite camp, the Malians who let this place slip to the semi-finals.

Odillon Kossounou sees red

This quarter-final between two neighboring and “brother” countries could really go the other way. As Eric Chelle’s men had big chances to take advantage, especially on a penalty by defender Odilon Kosonu (15th) on Lesin Sinaiko. But Adama Traore lost his duel with Nos Yahia Fofana. The Ivorian miracle continues…

But Odilon Kosonu, already alert for penalty action and on the brink of breaking from the start of the match, broke before half-time with a fresh foul on Sinayoko that opened the way for the goal. Another yellow card and a logical dismissal for the Ivorian central defender. The Elephants will have to play with 10 men for at least a half with Max-Alain Gradel on the right after the break and Serge Aurier’s exit.

Also readRelive the match commented by our reporters

We thought the match had definitely turned when Nene Dorgeles opened the scoring (72nd) with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. Dorgeles, quite a symbol! The Malian midfielder, born in Kayes to Ivorian parents, had measured joy as he celebrated his goal. However, he had reason to be proud, his opening score was so grand; A strike from 20 meters that landed in the top corner and leveled Ivorian goalkeeper Yahya Fofana just as at the Stade de la Paix in Boake.

But elephants have tough skin! Even at 10, behind and dominating, they found the resources to equalize in the final minutes of the second half and push the Malians into overtime. And they could have led in turn with Sebastian Heller’s header which ended up on the crossbar of Djigu Diarra (95th).

Unsurprisingly, this similarity goes beyond the men of Immers Fay who play better, acquit themselves and are carried by a glorious orange audience. Mali is contained, showing his excitement and unable to make a difference until this backheel from Diakite.

The Ivorians are in the semi-finals and they deserved it. This team is not a steamroller, it was very difficult to play against this very playful Mali. The powerful midfielder, played by the Fofana-Casey duo, has often come up against the perpetual movement of men in the Malian midfield, but she has the heart to move mountains and audiences and is now fully committed to her cause. Will these pledges be enough to beat DRC in the semi-finals and win the cup? ” Ivorian is not impossible », will respond to 40,000 viewers and 27 million Ivorians in Bouaké.