Defending Champions, Terranga Lions of Senegal have been knocked out of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast after losing to the host nation via penalty shootout after a thrilling 120 minutes of action inside the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
The Senegalese, who are not just favourites to win the encounter but the tournament as a whole failed to live up to expectations as they fell to an Ivorian side that qualified for the last sixteen by picking up the last best loser spot.
Many would have thought the Senegalese were going to thrash the Ivorians when Habib Diallo put them ahead in the 4th minute of the match. They however failed to add to their tally and were made to pay for that when the Ivorians were awarded a late penalty which was expertly dispatched by Frank Kessie in the 86th minute to level the match at 1-1.
Neither side could find the winner and after 120 minutes of footballing actions, the match was decided via the lottery of penalties.
Nottingham Forest’s defender, Moussa Niakhate was the only one who failed to score his spot kick as Ivory Coast won the shootout 5-4 to send the Terranga Lions out while they march into the quarter finals stage of the competition.
