Ten-man Ivory Coast came from behind to defeat Mali 2-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash at stade de la Paix on Saturday evening.
The hosts trailed 1-0 after 70 minutes, which were heavily dominated by Mali with Simon Adingra levelling in injury-time to take the match into extra-time.
Mali had scored a stunner of an opener Drogeles Nene while Ivory Coast’s winner was scored by Oumar Diaki at the stroke of 120 minutes. They have set-up a semi-final meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo next week.
Mali showed their intentions as early as in the third minute when Kamory Doumbia found Lassine Sinayoko in the box, however the Ivory Coast goalkeeper literally put his body on the line to make a save.
Mali won a free-kick in the seventh minute Doumbia stepped up and passed to Sinayoko who forced the keeper to come out with open palms to rather concede a corner. In defending the corner Odilon Kossounou handled the ball in the box but the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) did not give a penalty ruling the incident offside. In the 15th minute Kossounou was guilty of bringing Sinayoko down in the box and Mali was awarded a penalty. Adama Traore stepped up and his poor delivery was saved by Yahia Fofana.
At the half hour mark Sinayoko had another chance from a tight angle but his effort was an easy save for the Ivorian keeper.
The hosts had a chance to take the lead with a good build up that ended on Seko Fofana’s feet but he shot high in the 41st minute. Three minutes to the break the Elephants saw red as Kossounou received his marching orders after receiving a second yellow for fouling Sinayoko just outside the box.
The Eagles got a free kick but Traore could not make it count leaving the score goalless at halftime.
Mali picked up where they off in the second half with Sinayoko continuing to be a problem for Ivory Coast but his effort was headed out.
In the 50th minute Amadou Haidara took a powerful shot from range but it was met with just the super save.
Ivory Coast had their first shot in the half to get ahead from a corner in the 62nd minute but Kiki Kouyate’s header was cleared. Mali kept pushing and substitute Nene scored a beautiful goal from far silencing the Ivorian crowd with what looked like Mali’s first AFCON victory over their neighbours.
There were some nervy moments at the end with Ivory Coast almost equalising from a corner but Oumar Diakate missed the target with his head in the last 10 minutes. But in injury-time Simon Adingra brought the stadium to its fee with an equaliser dragging the clash into extra time.
Five minutes into extra-time The Elephants came close to taking the lead through Sebastian Haller but he was denied by the woodwork the biggest action of the first half of the added time.
In the second half Mali won a set-pieced earlier after Nene was fouled he kicked into the box almost forcing Wilfred Singo to commit an own goal.
Nene had another shot from far but it went over the bar. But Oumar Diaki had the final word in the dying minutes of the game when it looked like the match was going to penalties.
