Tokyo 2021: Côte d'Ivoire close to quarters, South Africa and Egypt punished

Ivorian Youssouf Dao duels with Brazilian Dani Alves, watched by Diego Carlos, at the Tokyo Olympics football tournament on July 25.

REUTERS - PHIL NOBLE

Text by: Tom Rossi Follow

5 mins

Authors of a draw against Brazil, the Ivorians are getting closer to the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympic Games football tournament.

Beaten by France at the end of a crazy match, the South Africans are on the verge of elimination.

The Egyptians still have a chance despite their defeat against Argentina.

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Three days after its victory against Saudi Arabia

, Côte d'Ivoire obtained a good draw against Brazil, reigning Olympic champion (0-0).

Well helped by the expulsion of Douglas Luiz from the 13th minute, the Ivorians could have opened the scoring on two strikes from Mancunian

Amad Diallo

and one from the experienced Milanese

Franck Kessié

.

But, as a foretaste of a second period that will be to the advantage of the Brazilians, Elephants goalkeeper Eliezer Ira Tapé had to work just before the break on a strike from Ajax striker Antony . 

The young goalkeeper of FC San Pédro then allowed Côte d'Ivoire to keep this point of the draw despite the expulsion for a second yellow card from Eboué Kouassi (79th).

A point that allows Soualiho Haidara's men to have their destiny in hand for the quarter-finals.

A draw against Germany on Wednesday will suffice. 

Cruel to South Africa 

Crazy second period at Saitama in Group A between French and South Africans.

The Bafana Bafana dominated, led three times, but were finally punished in the last seconds by André-Pierre Gignac on penalty (3-3, 86th) and Teji Savanier, who eliminated the defender with a fake shot before adjust with the left foot (4-3, 92nd). 

The disappointment of the South Africans after the fourth goal of the French team at the football tournament of the Olympic Games in Tokyo on July 25.

REUTERS - MOLLY DARLINGTON

Before that, South Africa, who had touched the post, then the bar on penalty before the break, managed to open the scoring following a big mistake by Clément Michelin: the defender missed his control and let Kobamelo Kodisang score the first South African goal in these Olympics (0-1, 53rd). Against the course of the game, the Blues equalized in stride thanks to Gignac, well served in withdrawal by the Nantes Randal Kolo Muani (1-1, 57th).

The Bafana Bafana then moved forward and took the lead: the scorer Kobamelo Kodisang turned into a passer at the near post for Evidence Makgopa, who deceived goalkeeper Bernardoni with a volley (1-2, 72nd) .

Unable to keep their lead, the South Africans were again joined with a header from Gignac (2-2, 78th), before Teboho Mokoena scored the goal of the match: a curled shot at the entrance to the surface which was housed in a dormer (2-3, 81st). 

. @ 10APG leaves with the match ball!


⚽⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/OiJJmQAZdl

- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) July 25, 2021

Crumbly and unlucky, South Africa will then fall from above and see its hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals fly away.

After two defeats

, it would take a huge combination of circumstances.  

Egypt can still believe it

There is more hope for the Pharaohs despite their defeat.

After a good start against Spain on Thursday (0-0), Egypt was indeed logically inclined against Argentina, in Sapporo (0-1), in pool C. Malmenés, the Egyptians despite everything conceded few chances before the Argentinian of RC Lens, Facundo Medina, opened the scoring at the reception of a center (0-1, 52nd). 

Egyptian players Ahmed Yasser Rayan and Taher Mohamed after losing to Argentina at the Tokyo Olympics football tournament on July 25.

REUTERS - KIM HONG-JI

The Pharaohs pushed at the end of the match but he missed a hair to Ibrahim Adel to regain the ball with his head from a free kick.

They will have to beat Australia on Wednesday to hope to secure a ticket to the quarter-finals. 

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