Host, Ivory Coast on Monday night knocked out champions Senegal 5-4 on penalties after a pulsating 1-1 draw after extra-time in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match played at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
The win saw the Elephants progress to the quarterfinals of Africa’s biggest football tournament.
The hosts will now go head to head with either Mali or Burkina Faso in the last eight on 3 February at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
Senegal, on the other hand, crashed out of the tournament as their hopes of successfully defending their Afcon title were dashed and they will now travel back home after a shock exit.
It took just four minutes for the Lions of Teranga to take the lead after some great work by Sadio Mane.
The two-time CAF Footballer of the Year set up Habib Diallo who was afforded space and time to fire home to hand Senegal a 1-0 lead.
The Elephants responded by exerting pressure on the Lions of Teranga with Seko Fofana driving the hosts forward.
The Al Nassr midfielder was able to test goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who made a great save to deny Fofana in the 40th minute and the score was 1-0 to Senegal at halftime.
Ivory Coast created the better chances after the restart with Mendy forced to pull off a fine save to deny Franck Kessie in the 73rd minute.
Pressure was mounting on Senegal as Nicolas Pepe was sent through on goal in the 77th minute and he was also denied by Mendy.
The Elephants continued to push for the equalising goal and they were awarded a penalty after Pepe was fouled by Mendy in the box.
Kessie stepped up and beat Mendy from the spot-kick to make it 1-1, and the game ended in a draw in regulation time, and extra-time followed.
The two teams attacked each other in extra-time, but there were no goals and the match was decided by a penalty shootout.
Ivory Coast won 5-4 on penalties with Kessie scoring the winning penalty as Moussa Niakhate became the only player to miss during the shootout.
