Franck Kessie emerged as the hero for the Ivory Coast in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash against reigning champions Senegal. The match resulted in a 1-1 draw in normal time, with the Elephants then emerging victorious with a 5-4 win in the shootout.
The Ivory Coast faced a crucial penalty shootout against Senegal, with Franck Kessie’s composure from the penalty spot proving to be the difference as he slotted home the winning kick after Moussa Niakhate’s miss gave the Elephants the edge.
The Ivorian team was trailing for most of the game, but Kessie, who had been left on the bench by interim coach Emerse Fae, forced extra time with a well-taken penalty in the 86th minute, canceling out Habib Diallo’s early opener.
The chaos that had surrounded the Ivory Coast’s camp following their earlier loss looked like it had derailed their chances of pulling off an upset. However, the introduction of Kessie and Pepe by Fae during the second half managed to shift the momentum in their favor.
During extra time, Senegal squandered golden opportunities, and Kessie held his nerve to secure the win for the Ivory Coast with two world-class penalties. The victory now sets the stage for a quarter-final clash between the Ivory Coast and either Mali or Burkina Faso.
Although eyebrows were raised when Fae chose not to start Kessie or Pepe, their impactful performance off the bench has restored hope for the Ivory Coast. Kessie was named as the Player of the Match for his significant contributions and consistent performance, even after being left out of the starting lineup.
Overall, the Ivory Coast’s thrilling victory showed the resilience and determination of the team, and Kessie’s decisive role in the match has cemented his place as a key player for the team moving forward. The team’s impressive performance and Kessie’s heroics have reignited hopes for their AFCON campaign.
News Summery :
– Franck Kessie was a hero for the Ivory Coast in a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Senegal in the last-16 tie of the Africa Cup of Nations
– Kessie, who was left on the bench by the interim coach, forced extra time with a penalty and then scored the winning penalty
– Despite the Ivory Coast’s struggles following a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, they managed to win the match and advance to the quarter-finals
– Kessie, along with Nicolas Pepe, made an impact after coming off the bench and changed the momentum of the game
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