Nine-man Ivory Coast beat Mali 2:1 to progress to AFCON2023 semifinal

In a stunning turn of events, Ivory Coast, despite being reduced to nine players, secured a remarkable spot in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after an intense extra-time showdown. Throughout the match, the hosts relied on their luck, particularly when goalkeeper Yahia Fofana saved Adama Traore’s penalty kick, which lacked power. The situation worsened for Ivory Coast when defender Odilon Kossounou received a second yellow card for fouling Lassine Sinayoko just before halftime, leaving them with only nine players on the field.

With just 19 minutes remaining, the Eagles took the lead thanks to an impressive long-range strike from Nene Dorgeles. However, their joy was short-lived as substitute Simon Adingra managed to score an equalizer in the 90th minute. As the game seemed destined for a penalty shootout, another substitute, Diakite, found himself in the right place at the right time to secure a last-minute victory for Ivory Coast. Unfortunately, his celebration led to a second yellow card and subsequent sending off. This turn of events infuriated the Mali players, resulting in Hamari Traore also receiving a red card. Overall, it was a dramatic match filled with twists and turns, ultimately resulting in Ivory Coast’s miraculous advancement to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.