Mali vs Ivory Coast 1-2 (AET): CAF AFCON 2023 quarterfinal – as it happened
All the updates as hosts Ivory Coast beat Mali in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Ivory Coast beat Mali at the African Cup of Nations 2023 on Saturday, February 3:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Ivory Coast beat Mali at the African Cup of Nations 2023 on Saturday, February 3:
- Hosts Ivory Coast mount another astonishing comeback to beat Mali 2-1 after extra-time in the third quarterfinal of AFCON 2023 at Bouake Stadium.
- Reduced to 10 men by a red card at the end of the first half, the Ivorians fell behind in the second half to a Nene Dorgeles goal only for Simon Adingra to equalise in the 90th minute. Oumar Diakite scored the winner in added time at the end of extra-time to send the home fans delirious.
- The hosts will face DRC in the semifinals.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
It’s a wrap
What an unbelievable game we just witnessed!
Mali looked in control after Ivory Coast went down a man in the first half.
Despite the disadvantage, The Elephants did well to hold on as long as they could, before Dorgeles’s stunner in the 71st minute ensured the visitors had a precious lead.
As the match crept closer towards the end of regulation time, it looked like Mali had ousted the hosts before a moment of brilliance from substitute Adringa kept their hopes alive.
From there on, Ivory Coast had a reason to fight, and they continued to probe for chances before a last-ditch effort at the very tail-end of extra-time produced one of the most remarkable turnarounds you will ever see.
This AFCON Cup has been something to behold, and today’s match is another glowing tribute.
Ivory Coast will next face DRC on February 7 in the semifinal, while Nigeria await the winner of Cape Verde and South Africa, which we are covering here.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of this memorable match, and on behalf of Al Jazeera Sport, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.
📊 La Côte d’Ivoire disputera la 𝑶𝑵𝒁𝑰𝑬̀𝑴𝑬 demie-finale de CAN de son histoire. 🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/bRNKHuQIdR
— Séléphanto Football 🇨🇮🐘 (@Selephanto) February 3, 2024
A run for the ages
Can also add they went down a man in the first half of this match!
Ivory Coast at AFCON:
▪️Lost two of their three group games
▪️Lost 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea
▪️Sacked their head coach mid tournament
▪️Reached the knockouts as the fourth-best third-placed team
▪️Only one win within 90 minutesThey are through to the semi-finals 😱🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/RucKr2wEoX
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 3, 2024
The final goal in all its glory
IVORY COAST WITH A 120TH LAST MINUTE WINNER 🤯
WHAT AN AFCON TOURNAMENT
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) February 3, 2024
Full-time
The referee decides to play on for a few minutes, but as soon as the whistle goes off, the Malian players come hurtling at him and the assistants.
The Ivory Coast players rush to help as it has unfortunately devolved into an aggressive series of events out on the pitch.
A red card is issued to Traore for his venomous tirade at the referee.
The Malian coach looks absolutely shell-shocked as he sits on his haunches in utter disbelief.
Full-time: Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast
GOAL!
Just like the equaliser before, Ivory Coast manage to score a goal of the very last kick of extra time to extend their AFCON campaign!
The goal comes off a late free kick which is won on the right side.
The cross is sent in, and after the ball bandies about in the box, it finds Fofana who decides to have a strike from distance.
The ball is able to continue through into the box, with Diakite getting a crucial deflection to wrong-foot Diarra at the last moment as the ball rolls into the net.
From being a nervous bunch, Bouake Stadium is suddenly thrust into bedlam.
120 mins+2: Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast
Inching towards penalties
It is getting feisty out there again as both teams seem content with this match being decided on penalties.
118 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Dorgeles’ strike goes wide
He snakes in from the left side and once again, aims for the top-right corner of goal, but this time he doesn’t quite find the mark.
114 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Diakite shown yellow!
For getting a high boot on his opposing number, he duly goes into the referee’s naughty list.
112 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Mali win free kick
The opportunity is on the left side, with a low ball sent swerving into the box.
The first attempt fails to produce anything, but Mali recover and send another pass into the box.
This time, the ball ends up catching Boly on the boot, but misses the open far post by just inches as it rolls out for a right-side corner.
It could have just as easily rolled in, so Ivory Coast will consider themselves mighty lucky.
110 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Second half of extra-time under way
Ivory Coast kick off this important passage of play.
106 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Half-time in extra-time
Fifteen minutes down, and 15 minutes left to go.
Ivory Coast looked the more assured team in that first half of extra-time.
Mali, on the other hand, appear slightly lost since the late equaliser.
They have failed to fully capitalise on the man advantage, and may come to rue it if the match goes to penalties.
HT ET: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Traore tries his luck from distance
The strike is from about 35 metres (38 yards) out, just left of centre.
The ball swerves a touch mid-air, but Fofana is able to get comfortably behind it.
105 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Mali make change
It is the end of Samassekou’s night as his replacement, Ibrahim Sissoko, rushes out on the field.
102 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Kouyate header goes over
Mali win the corner on the right side.
A swerving cross is sent in, and Kouyate does well to get on the end of it, but ends up spooning it over the crossbar.
100 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Haller hits the woodwork
The Borussia Dortmund forward rises high to a cross into the box from the right side.
He does well to get a head on it, but ends up hitting it straight at the crossbar.
Mali are very fortunate to get away with that.
96 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Circumspect start to extra-time
The Elephants have their tails up, while Mali look to have ratcheted down their intensity.
The home fans are vociferously cheering on their side to an improbable win given their predicament.
95 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
First half of extra-time under way
Mali will kick things off as we look to break the deadlock.
91 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
End of normal time
With just a minute to go, Doumbia is substituted for Yves Bissouma.
Soon after the referee blows the whistle as we now officially head into extra-time.
Ivory Coast will be the happier team going into this break given the manner in which they came back.
Mali will need to regroup now as we face another 30 minutes of play before the dreaded penalties.
End of normal time: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Seven minutes to be added
It may very well be more given that dramatic equalising goal by Adringa.
90+4 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
GOAL!
Ivory Coast come out of nowhere to equalise, with the home fans going absolutely berserk!
The play begins on the right side, with the ball passed towards a waiting Fofana. He tries his luck from outside the box, but ends up hitting the back of a Malian defender.
The ball falls in front of Adringa, who had just come on a few minutes ago.
He is able to find the space to send a powerful strike towards the top-left of goal.
Bouake Stadium has absolutely gone off as a result.
The Malian players look devastated after being just minutes away from ensuring their progression.
90+1 mins: Mali 1-1 Ivory Coast
Mali make double substitution
Sinayoko and Coulibaly trudge off the field, with Mamadou Fofana and Boubacar Traore coming on in their place.
89 mins: Mali 1-0 Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast make change
Simon Adringa is brought on to replace Gradel.
87 mins: Mali 1-0 Ivory Coast
Diarra makes vital stop
A free kick is taken from the left side of the pitch, about 35 metres (38 yards) out.
The ball finds a towering Singo, who does well to rise to it.
He heads it towards the far post, but Diarra is well positioned to hold onto the chance.
85 mins: Mali 1-0 Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast inches from equalising
It is taken from the right side.
The delivery is right into the middle as Diakiti rises up to meet the ball at its apex.
He gets a glancing header on it, with the ball just missing the far post.
That was perilously close for the Elephants.
83 mins: Mali 1-0 Ivory Coast
Mali pushing for second
With such a slender lead, and the man advantage, Mali are throwing everything at Ivory Coast.
The Elephants continue to stay back and keep a few players up front for a potential counter.
79 mins: Mali 1-0 Ivory Coast