Franck Kessié revives Ivory Coast’s hopes as they overcome Senegal

A mere week ago, Ivory Coast endured a demoralizing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Equatorial Guinea. Now, they stand tall in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after eliminating the reigning champions. Throughout the tournament, Ivory Coast has repeatedly faced moments that appeared to spell their demise, none more evident than when they trailed with just four minutes left on Monday. Yet, Sébastien Haller’s resilient squad, akin to a determined zombie army, perseveres and advances to face Mali or Burkina Faso in the quarter-finals.

Senegal, having showcased dominance in the group stage, seemed to be in control until Haller’s introduction altered the course of the game. What initially appeared as a classic case of scoring early and securing victory turned out differently. The ongoing curse persisted, as no defending champion has reached the quarter-finals since Egypt in 2010. Despite disappointment, Senegal’s coach, Aliou Cissé, acknowledged that football’s unpredictable nature leaves no room for complaints.

For Ivory Coast, the second-half collapse against Equatorial Guinea felt like a crushing blow, a defeat with lasting psychological repercussions. Yet, a week later, they found themselves, somewhat inexplicably, still in the competition. The dismissal of coach Jean Louis-Gasset following the Equatoguinean humiliation added to the upheaval. The temporary leadership of Emerse Faé, a former Reading midfielder with no prior coaching experience, raised eyebrows, especially considering the significant investment in hosting the tournament.

The silver lining for Ivory Coast was the liberation from expectations; the undead, symbolizing the team, had nothing to lose. Perhaps age mattered less to these metaphorical zombies, as demonstrated by the return of 36-year-old Max Gradel to the starting lineup. However, the challenge lay in their weakness against crosses, evident when Habib Diallo capitalized on a delivery from Sadio Mané, denting Ivory Coast’s hopes early on.

Despite controlling possession, the Ivorians struggled to break through Senegal’s defense until Haller’s pivotal entry in the 72nd minute. His impact was immediate, testing goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and earning a crucial penalty after releasing Nicolas Pépé. Franck Kessié converted from the spot, thrusting Senegal, who were minutes away from the quarter-finals, into an unexpected shootout.

In the shootout, Senegal couldn’t shake off the relentless grip of the rising corpse that was Ivory Coast. A penalty miss from Nottingham Forest’s Moussa Niakhaté proved decisive, allowing Kessié to secure the victory. Senegal’s title defense crumbled, and against all odds, the Ivorians are not only alive but are now celebrating in disbelief.