Ivory Coast fans again swarmed the streets of Abidjan with jubilations as the Elephants scurried to an unlikely AFCON round 16 victory over tournament favorites and defending champions Senegal.
Ivory Coast held a commanding sway of proceedings in the game but could not contain the firepower of the defending champions. Diallo put the Teranga Lions in front just four minutes into the game.
A goal drought set in after Diallo's strikes as Ivory Coast struggled to convert their dominant performance into chances. Senegal headed into the break with a narrow lead.
In the second half, the hosts were fired up searching for an equaliser but were denied by the brink wall defense of the Teranga Lions. Six minutes from regulation time, Franck Kessie salvaged the situation for the Elephants, converting a spot-kick to draw the game level.
Kessie's leveler dragged the game into extra time but it still ended squares as both sides headed to the penalties.
Ivory Coast converted all their five spot kicks but Senegal's Niakhate missed his' to hand the Ivoriens an unlikely victory over the defending champions.
As usual, Ivory Coast fans left no stone unturned as they wheeled into the streets of Abidjan, the Capital City, to celebrate the landmark victory.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who was constantly cutting a frustrated figure on the stands throughout the Elephants' group stage nightmare, joined the Ivorien fans to celebrate the colossal victory over Senegal.
Taking to his social media handle, Drogba shared footage of the jubilant fans and wrote;
"It is spoiled," Drogba first wrote on X, formerly Twitter after Senegal's penalty miss. "This is what it’s all about!!!!!!! Well done elephants!!! You fought like lions," he added on social media after the game.
The Elephants will now take on the winner between Mali and Burkina Faso for a place in the last four of the tournament.
Ivory Coast held a commanding sway of proceedings in the game but could not contain the firepower of the defending champions. Diallo put the Teranga Lions in front just four minutes into the game.
A goal drought set in after Diallo's strikes as Ivory Coast struggled to convert their dominant performance into chances. Senegal headed into the break with a narrow lead.
In the second half, the hosts were fired up searching for an equaliser but were denied by the brink wall defense of the Teranga Lions. Six minutes from regulation time, Franck Kessie salvaged the situation for the Elephants, converting a spot-kick to draw the game level.
Kessie's leveler dragged the game into extra time but it still ended squares as both sides headed to the penalties.
Ivory Coast converted all their five spot kicks but Senegal's Niakhate missed his' to hand the Ivoriens an unlikely victory over the defending champions.
As usual, Ivory Coast fans left no stone unturned as they wheeled into the streets of Abidjan, the Capital City, to celebrate the landmark victory.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who was constantly cutting a frustrated figure on the stands throughout the Elephants' group stage nightmare, joined the Ivorien fans to celebrate the colossal victory over Senegal.
Taking to his social media handle, Drogba shared footage of the jubilant fans and wrote;
"It is spoiled," Drogba first wrote on X, formerly Twitter after Senegal's penalty miss. "This is what it’s all about!!!!!!! Well done elephants!!! You fought like lions," he added on social media after the game.
The Elephants will now take on the winner between Mali and Burkina Faso for a place in the last four of the tournament.