Crashed out 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament defending champions, Senegal lost 5-4 on penalties to the Elephants La Cote d’Ivoire in the round of 16 of Afcon-2023 after 90′ minutes 1-1 draw. additional 30′ extra-time in Yamoussoukro could not produce a winner, the game proceeded to a straight penalty shot out leading to the defeat to Senegal.
Senegalese winger Diatta lash out to CAF and the Gabonese centre referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho for deliberately forcing the exit of Senegal from the competition.
Senegal could have gone 2-0 up in the second half but center referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho overlooked a potential penalty to Senegal but allowed the game to continue after his teammate Ismaila Sarr went down in a tangle of legs in the Ivory Coast box with defender Odilon Kossounou.
“You go to the VAR to give them a penalty, while our guy (Sarr) picks up the ball 40 metres from goal, goes on a run into the box and you don’t want to go to the VAR? He said.
Habib Diallo’s opener for Senegal as early in the 4′ minutes of the game brought the best out of the game, saw end to end actions from both sides, both goalkeepers had a busy day making several saves to keep the game going.
Whereas the host Ivory Coast push more men forward in search of an equalizer, the Senegalese awaits patiently soaking the pressure to pull a surprise counter-attack to increase their lead.
The defending champions, Senegal failed to hold on to the lead after all the hard work to conceded a late penalty after Mendy brought down Ivory Coast’s Nicholas Pepe draw the game.
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Diatta continued to express dissatisfaction pertaining to the final outcome of the game.
“You have killed us. You are corrupt. Keep your African Cup,”
“I’m sorry but that is going too far. I am really sorry but they have killed our competition,” Diatta added.