Ivory Coast clinched a hard-fought victory against Mali, securing their spot in the semifinals against DR Congo.
The game kicked off with Mali applying intense pressure, creating several scoring opportunities early on. However, a potential handball call against Ivory Coast was overturned upon review, sparing them an early setback.
Mali gained a penalty opportunity in the 16th minute, but Adama Traore’s shot was thwarted by Yahia Fofana.
Despite Ivory Coast’s resilience, they faced adversity when reduced to 10 men just before halftime due to a second yellow card offense.
The second half saw Mali dominating possession, with Nene Dorgeles unleashing a remarkable shot in the 71st minute to put Mali in the lead.
Yet, Ivory Coast retaliated in the dying minutes as Simon Adingra equalized the scoreline.
The match extended into extra time, where Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Haller narrowly missed a goal with a header.
Nonetheless, Oumar Diakite secured Ivory Coast’s victory with a skillful flick in the 120th minute, sealing their place in the semifinals amid intense competition.
