Senegal 1 – 1 Ivory Coast

Franck Kessie stepped up from the penalty spot to ship defending champions Senegal tumbling out of the Africa Cup of Nations and spark wild celebrations in Yamoussoukro.

Kessie had given hosts Ivory Coast hope when he coolly dispatched an 86th-minute spot-kick previous Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to ship the tie into extra-time.

The 27-year-old delivered as soon as once more with the essential kick to seal a 5-4 win within the shoot-out after Moussa Niakhate had missed his earlier effort for the favourites.

The Ivory Coast’s win continued a outstanding revival for the hosts who had regarded down and out within the group stage after a 4-0 humiliation by the hands of Equatorial Guinea.

Senegal had regarded set to finish the curse that had seen no defending champions attain the final eight since 2010 when Habib Diallo rifled residence with simply 4 minutes on the clock.

The hosts responded effectively as they pinned Senegal again in their very own half, however the holders’ defence held agency and Ivory Coast had been restricted to a succession of half-chances.

Seko Fofana’s run right into a harmful space was beautifully snuffed out by Niakhate and Senegal virtually prolonged their benefit on the stroke of half-time when Ismaila Sarr stumbled over a capturing likelihood.

Sarr got here shut once more early within the second half however Ivory Coast continued to press by Oumar Diakite, who virtually served up a leveller for Jean Philippe Krasso simply earlier than the hour mark.

The holders missed a good higher alternative within the 74th minute when Kessie’s free-kick was parried by Mendy, who by some means bought in the best way of the identical participant’s follow-up from a good angle.

Substitute Nicolas Pepe missed one other enormous likelihood when he lashed a curling effort straight at Mendy, however earned his aspect their essential penalty 4 minutes from time when he was tripped by Mendy within the field.

Kessie stored his cool to power the extra half-hour and after neither aspect might break the impasse, it got here right down to the shoot-out the place the hosts scored all 5 to seal a well-known triumph.

Cape Verde edge previous Mauritania to ebook quarter-final spot

Ryan Mendes transformed a late penalty as Cape Verde beat Mauritania 1-0 in Abidjan to seal their place within the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cape Verde captain Mendes struck the decisive spot kick within the 88th minute and the Blue Sharks will now face both Morocco or South Africa within the quarter-finals.

Cape Verde, one of many shock groups of the match after ending unbeaten on the high of Group B forward of Egypt and Ghana, had been second finest for many of the first half, however completed strongly to safe their passage.

Mauritania reached the match’s knockout phases for the primary time by defeating two-time winners Algeria 1-0 of their last group sport to progress as among the best third-placed groups.

The primary-half motion was end-to-end, however clear-cut probabilities had been at a premium, whereas Mauritania had been dealt a blow within the thirty fifth minute when Omare Gassama was carried off on a stretcher and changed by Guessouma Fofana.

Mendes’ early effort for Cape Verde was deflected into the side-netting and Mauritania captain Mouhsine Bodda curled a Fifteenth-minute free-kick simply large.

Mauritania made all of the early working within the second interval and Souleymane Anne missed the sport’s finest likelihood from open play when firing large after Sidi Amar’s surging run into the penalty space simply earlier than the hour mark.

Cape Verde got here on strongly within the closing phases with each Garry Rodrigues’ drive and Mendes’ header forcing Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse into wonderful saves.

The sport’s decisive second got here within the 87th minute when Yassin El Welly’s misplaced headed back-pass was pounced on by substitute Gilson Benchimol, who was introduced down by Niasse for a transparent penalty.

Mendes held his nerve, drilling his spot-kick down the center and the Blue Sharks noticed out 10 minutes of added time to seal their place within the final eight.