Ivory Coast stunned Mali to book their place in the final four of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations following a dramatic 2-1 win over Mali to book a spot in the semi final.
Following Adama Traore’s missed penalty for Mali, Nene Dorgeles thought his second half goal secured the win. However, Simon Adingra leveled in the last minute before Oumar Diakite took centre stage as the match looked to be heading for penalties.
The first half was marked by chaos as Sikou Niakate had a penalty appeal for handball turned down as he was offside, before Odilon Kossouna conceded one for a foul on Lassine Sinayoko, only for Adama Traore to miss.
Just before half-time, Sinayoko brought another desperate foul from Kossouno, who saw red reducing the Ivorian side to 10 man
As the weakened side got tired, Nene found room to fire in a brilliant strike from 30 yards out to take the lead, but with the game almost over, Simon Adingra prodded home an injury-time equaliser.
With no breakthrough in extra time the match seemed to be set for penalties before a knockout blow from Oumar Diakite in extra-time sealed the victory for the elephants
Diakite then scored the winner before being sent off for a second booking by taking his shirt off in celebration.
Mali’s Hamari Traore was also shown a red card at the final whistle.
The Ivorians had limped into the knockout stage as one of the four best third placed finishers, despite a 4-0 loss to tiny Equatorial Guinea, but then resurrected their hopes by edging holders Senegal on post-match penalties in the last 16
Ivory Coast will play DR Congo on Wednesday February 7th, 9pm at the Stade Alassane Quattara stadium to fight for a place in the final
