Reigning champions Senegal were eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in a penalty shootout against hosts Ivory Coast.
The match, held in Yamoussoukro, ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time. Senegal’s Habib Diallo scored in the fourth minute with a strike from a Sadio Mane cross, giving them an early lead. However, Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessie levelled the score by converting a penalty four minutes from the end of normal time.
The game proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Franck Kessie once again played a crucial role by converting the winning penalty. The victory marked a remarkable turnaround for Ivory Coast, who had faced two defeats in the group stage. The hosts redeemed themselves with this win, securing a spot in the quarterfinals.
Senegal’s elimination continued a trend where no African champion, since Egypt in 2010, has managed to progress past the round of 16 in the following tournament. Ivory Coast will now advance to the quarterfinals and face the winner of the match between Mali and Burkina Faso.