The host broke the first upset, the defending champion was in a dilemma, and the 2-1 win was out
Description: The Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Côte d'Ivoire, and African teams will have one of the most famous players in the country. Ivory Coast did not finish well in the group, but they made it to the knockout rounds. They face former champions Senegal in the quarter-finals, so few expected Ivory Coast to win the title. However, despite not being as good as their rivals, they eventually beat Senegal with a hard-fought comeback victory.
Caught in a dilemma due to grouping.
Côte d'Ivoire had a dismal result in the group. They beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in the first round, but were knocked out by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea twice in a row. In the end, they finished last in the group stage, which cannot but raise questions.
What is even more surprising is that the Football Federation of Côte d'Ivoire actually fired French coach Gasset, who is in his 70s, as soon as the game ended. They had tried to lease her to the club in the name of French women's coach Renard, but it was unsuccessful. So, in the game against Senegal, the assistant coach became the team's ** manager. This change has left Côte d'Ivoire in a dilemma.
A tough battle with Senegal.
Ivory Coast looked to have started somewhat negatively against tough rivals Senegal. Just four minutes into the game, Senegalese Mane took the ball to the penalty area and was subsequently caught by Habib Diallo as Senegal led 1-0.
After the Ivory Coast's defense was breached by the opponent, it was quickly launched. However, they failed to score in the half. The Ivorians played their best in the second half of the game, and to the cheers of the crowd, they did their best to take on their opponents. Ivory Coast saved their lives with a goal on 86 minutes. Former Arsenal midfielder Pepe was tackled by an opposition goalkeeper in a shot from Ivory Coast to earn a penalty for his side. Casey took it upon himself to kick the ball into the back of the net to tie the game for his team. For the next 30 minutes, both teams scoreless, and the game turned into a shoot-out.
When it comes to the penalty kicks, both teams play well in the first two legs. However, Senegal had a penalty shoot-out in the third leg, and Niakete's shot unfortunately hit the post, giving Ivory Coast a good chance to attack. In the end, it was Ivory Coast's No.6 goalkeeper Kessie's precise shot that completed a stunning reversal. Ivory Coast beat Senegal in the group stage to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
The future of the Ivorian national team.
Côte d'Ivoire showed great quality in this Africa Cup of Nations, and the victory over Senegal also put them in the world's eye. Despite the difficulties in the group stage and the change of new manager, Ivory Coast showed a strong sense of community and tenacity.
On the pitch, the Ivorian players fought tenaciously, using their strength and tenacity to defeat strong opponents. They alternate between attack and defense quickly, and when attacking, they go deep layer by layer, and they are invulnerable in defense. In this team, youngsters like Pepe have shown their talent and skill to impress their game.
Although Ivory Coast are not yet at Senegal's level and have not reached their highest level, they still have hope for the remaining few tournaments. In rugby, strength is a big measure, but there are many other things that can affect the outcome of a game. The victory in Côte d'Ivoire showed us that if we go all out and work together, it is still possible for us to overcome strong opponents and continue to play out their legends.
The conclusion was reached:
Although Ivory Coast encountered many difficulties in the Africa Cup of Nations, it finally defeated Senegal and entered the quarterfinals by relying on collective hard work and tenacious struggle. Their games have made people more concerned about their future. Although Côte d'Ivoire will still face many difficulties, they have shown their strength and fighting spirit, and we are confident that they can achieve great results. We are confident that Ivory Coast will surprise our fans more and achieve more results in the coming tournaments.