This Ivory Coast has character. Given for dead on the evening of its humiliation against Equatorial Guinea, the Elephants once again showed that they possessed an extraordinary mentality to snatch a place in the last four. Mali, who nevertheless controlled the match, paid the price in overtime.

“Impossible is not Ivorian,” the locals have been repeating since the takeover by Emerse Fae. The supporters also met in Bouaké to support its Elephants. President Alassane Ouattara himself made the trip.

Go Elephants! We are with you and we trust you. #CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/IrolbX31PT

— Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI) February 3, 2024

If the stadium is orange and white, the Malians are also present to make themselves heard after having set the mood in Korhogo during the Eagles' first four matches. But the neighbors are warmly received, their anthem is even whistled by the Ivorians.

The match starts strong. A long touch from Sacko allows Kamory Doumbia to go on the wing. He crosses hard into the area for Sinayoko but Yahia Fofana is the fastest. The attacker trips on the goalkeeper but the referee is content with a lecture (3rd). The goalkeeper then repels a cross from the Brest resident (5th)

Mali misses a penalty

Mali thinks they will get a penalty. On a corner taken by Doumbia, the ball returned to Haidara who fired a powerful volley. Odilon Kossounou seems to deflect his hand while Niakaté remains on the ground. It took many minutes for the referee to finally check the video and finally decree that there was neither hand nor contact (12th) but rather an Ivorian offside.

On the other hand, there was no hesitation when Kossounou mowed down Sinayoko in the area. Captain Adama Traoré takes charge of the shot on goal but Yahia Fofana starts on the right side in a deafening clamor (17th). The SCO goalkeeper will celebrate with the ball in hand in front of a group of Elephants supporters who are roaring with happiness.

Despite this failure, Mali has the match in hand. Ivory Coast seems powerless to escape from the Eagles' counter-pressing. His first opportunity came late thanks to two grunts from the victorious 2015 campaign. On a corner taken by Aurier, Gradel recovered and put down the Malian defense to try his luck. Repulsed (29th).

The game is balanced and shows why the midfielders of both teams are considered the best in this CAN. Defense, standing, passing between the lines, recovery, vista, ... It's a feast for the eyes even if the action no longer approaches the goals.

Already at fault on the penalty, Odilon Kossounou received a second yellow card just before the break and left his partners at 10 for the second half. Emerse Faé made a strong choice by removing his captain Serge Aurier to bring in Willy Boly. He also brings in his still convalescing striker, Sébastien Haller

Dorgeles scores one of the goals of the tournament

However, the match continues with the same observations: Mali dominates the game and would easily win a 10-man passing contest if that was the goal of this quarter-final. But the Eagles appear clueless when entering the penalty area. Opposite, the Ivorians break the rhythm and struggle to reach the last 30 meters with the ball at their feet.

In these conditions, it takes an individual exploit to unblock the situation. Nene Dorgeles, who has just come into play in place of his captain Adama Traoré, knows it. In front of five Ivorian players, he cuts into the center and unleashes a superb shot which clears a spider's web lodged in the top corner of the helpless Yahia Fofana (71st, 1-0).

Adingra on the gong

In desperation, Ivory Coast pushed, particularly from set pieces. Diakité takes a corner with his head and propels the ball just next to Diarra's goal (82nd). Then, Singo places his head on a free kick (84th). 

Discouragement, like impossible, is not Ivorian. Having just entered, Adingra infiltrates the area before serving a teammate. The shot is deflected and returns to his feet, he just has to push the ball into Diarra's cage (90th, 1-1). The stadium wakes up for overtime.

Despite the numerical inferiority, the momentum changed sides. Taking a cross from the right, Haller got the better of Hamari Traoré but found the crossbar (95th). The Malians took a blow to the back of the head.

Unless a set piece puts the Eagles back in the right direction. On a free kick, Dorgeles on the side and crosses hard. Boly diverts and almost deceives his own goalkeeper (108th).

And, once again on the gong, it was Seko Fofana who found a mouse hole to snatch the victory (2-1). It's cruel for Mali, who long believed they were in their sixth semi-final in their history but paid for their lack of efficiency in front of goal.

For the Elephants, the resurrection campaign continues. While no one saw them capable of playing the leading roles after their third place in group A, they took out Senegal and Mali in quick succession. Next step ; DR Congo in the semi-final. Before an evening in Ebimpé on February 11?

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