Olympic Games: Ivory Coast defeats Saudi Arabia
Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié (center) during the match against Saudi Arabia on July 22, 2021 in Yokohama.
AP - Kiichiro Sato
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
4 min
Successful entry into contention for the Ivorians in the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
In Yokohama, the Elephants won against the Saudis (2-1) in Group D. A good result before challenging Brazil and Germany.
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In 2008, during its first participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Ivory Coast men's team had climbed to the quarter-finals, where it had laid down its arms against Nigeria, future finalist.
Thirteen years later, the Elephants are back.
And if it is too early to predict a fate at least as good as that of their predecessors, they still got off to a good start on Thursday, July 22.
In a tough Group D, where we find Brazil, reigning Olympic champion, and Germany, reigning Olympic vice-champion, Côte d'Ivoire could not afford to miss the boat against Saudi Arabia , fourth thief of the hen and opponent of the day.
The Ivorians have not failed.
They won, not without a bit of success (2-1).
Kessié delivers Ivory Coast
After 45 minutes, the score was 1-1 between the two Olympic caps. Soualiho Haidara's men struck first with unwitting help from the opposing team. On a cross from captain Max-Alain Gradel, defender Abdulelah Al Amri deflected the trajectory of the ball and scored against his camp (39th). But Saudi Arabia quickly equalized, on a beautiful curled shot from Salem Al Dawsari (44th). At the break, Côte d'Ivoire did not target a single shot ... but still scored a goal.
In the second half, the inevitable Franck Kessié changed the game. Moments after touching the crossbar, the midfielder scored the winning goal. Served by Amad Diallo at the entrance to the penalty area, Kessié pivoted and fired a powerful and victorious shot from the left (66th). A little later, the AC Milan player nearly scored a penalty after colliding with a Saudi in the box, but referee Matthew Conge ruled there was no foul.
Salem Al Dawsari had the opportunity to equalize again, but the Saudi striker's shot crashed on the crossbar of Eliezer Ira Tapé (83rd).
The Falcons' latest attempts have not been happier.
The only downside: the expulsion of Aboubacar Doumbia.
The striker, who entered the game in the 90th + 2, received a direct red card barely five minutes later, after jostling an opponent in front of the referee.
While waiting for the revenge of the 2016 final between Brazil and Germany, also scheduled for Thursday, Côte d'Ivoire turns at the top of Group D. On July 25, the Elephants will challenge the Seleçao, before measuring themselves against the Nationalmannschaft on 28.
Earlier this Thursday, July 22, in Group C in Sapporo, Egypt stood up to Spain (0-0). Despite the presence of many executive players of the national A team, the Spanish Olympic selection failed to force the lock of the Pharaohs. The latter, little offensive, did not give in. On June 25, they will challenge Argentina.
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