Ivory Coast STUN Mali with last-minute winner from backheel flick to send host nation into AFCON semi-finals with TWO red cards in the closing minutes as wild scenes erupt at full time

Ivory Coast STUN Mali with last-minute winner from backheel flick to send host nation into AFCON semi-finals with TWO red cards in the closing minutes as wild scenes erupt at full time

  • AFCON quarter-final saw dramatic end with two red cards and a late winner
  • Ivory Coast netted a last minute winner before goalscorer was sent off 
  • SAMI MOKBEL reveals which three January transfers he rates as the best ever – It’s All Kicking Off Transfer Week podcast 

Ivory Coast secured a last-minute win with an incredible late goal to send them through to the semi-finals as they beat Mali 2-1 on Saturday.

Oumar Diakite scored in added time after the match was sent to extra time, netting a 122nd-minute winner for the host nation. 

Moments after finding the back of the net with a backheel flick after a shot from outside the box following a corner, Diakite was sent off for his wild celebrations. 

Hamari Traore of Mali followed him seconds later after surrounding the referee before officials were escorted off for their safety. 

As the final whistle blew, Ivory Coast continued their wild celebrations as they booked a spot in the AFCON semi-finals. 

Seko Fofana celebrates after his team secured a spot in the semi-finals with a late winner 

Hamari Traore was sent off for Mali after protesting following Ivory Coast's late winner

Hamari Traore was sent off for Mali after protesting following Ivory Coast’s late winner

Fans erupted with full-time celebrations at final whistle after the last-minute goal

Fans erupted with full-time celebrations at final whistle after the last-minute goal 

Fans were quick to react to the sensational win, especially given Ivory Coast’s rocky journey at AFCON. 

‘My goodness Ivory Coast. What an extraordinary story: Survived group stage after finishing last. Their manager resigned. Survived Senegal with the last kick of the game. They have survived Mali with 10 men. Ivory Coast have more lives than a cat.’ one user posted. 

Gary Lineker added: ‘Wow! Ivory Coast who’ve played most of the game with 10 men have won it at the very end of extra time. What a moment for the host nation.’

Another joined: ‘Never has a team looked simultaneously so out of a tournament and so certain to win it as Ivory Coast. Incredible commitment to teetering on the brink during this AFCON.

‘Have a team ever won a major international tournament after sacking their manager mid tournament? Ivory Coast are crazy.’ Another penned. 

The host nation did not enjoy an ideal start to the tournament, after losing two of their three group games, including a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea. 

Things continued to heat up for the hosts as they sacked coach Jean-Louis Gasset but then miraculously scraped into the knockout stages by the barest of margins.

Full-time saw two red cards after Oumar Diakite took his top off in celebrations

Full-time saw two red cards after Oumar Diakite took his top off in celebrations 

The host nation have scraped through by fine margins throughout the tournament so far

The host nation have scraped through by fine margins throughout the tournament so far 

The host nation did not enjoy an ideal start to the tournament, after losing two of their three group games, including a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea

The host nation did not enjoy an ideal start to the tournament, after losing two of their three group games, including a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea

Gasset was duly replaced by a total novice in Emerse Faé ahead of a daunting last-16 match against the reigning champions Senegal.

After defeating favourites Senegal 5-4 on penalties, the side faced Mali in the quarter-finals having only won once in 90 minutes. 

Ivory Coast will face Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals on Wednesday. 




Source From: Football | Mail Online

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