Senegal v Ivory Coast: Africa Cup of Nations last-16 – live

Seri wins the official CAF man of the match award. He speaks in French but the emotion is so evident on his face and in his tone of voice. His teammates crash the interview, jumping around and celebrating. As they should. What a win!

Tears for the team in green. Dieng wipes away his face. Niakhaté looks inconsolable as the only player who missed his spot kick.

The curse continues. Since Egypt in 2010, no defending Afcon champion has qualified to the quarter-finals.

• 2012 – Egypt – did not qualify

• 2013 – Zambia – group stage exit

• 2015 – Nigeria – did not qualify

• 2017 – Ivory Coast – group stage exit

• 2019 -Cameroon – last 16 exit

• 2021 – Algeria – group stage exit

• 2023 – Senegal – last 16 exit

Massive celebrations from almost everyone in the stadium! Kessié runs straight to the fans. The bench goes absolutely crazy. Wow!

This team were down and out only a few days ago! This is Emerse Faé’s first ever match in charge as a senior manager. What a performance! The hosts march on in incredible fashion. The Elephants trumpet on!

Kessié scores! Mendy tries to throw him off but he looks assured and his shot is high into the roof of the net that sends the Elephants to the quarter-finals!

He’s missed a big penalty at Afcon back in 2017 but he rifles this one in. No chance of saving that!

A powerful one from the skipper! The noise is getting louder and louder now.

He was brought on to score … and he does! It’s a low rolling one. Fofana goes the right way but he cannot get a hand to it.

The hosts have the lead for the first time in the shootout! It’s a penalty straight through the middle. Cool and composed.

The first miss! The Forest defender clatters the left post! Mané immediately comes out to comfort him. Can the hosts capitalise?

View image in fullscreen

It’s a fast run up and another great penalty. It’s exactly in the bottom right corner. No one has let up so far!

Great technique! It’s high and in the middle.

Into the bottom left hand corner the ball goes. Mendy goes the right way but it’s just out of reach.

Senegal step up first and it’s the skipper who begins it all. A quick run-up and he scores, opting to go to the right, Fofana heading the wrong way.

Last night, the penalty shooutout between DR Congo and Egpyt ended 8-7. Let’s see if this one takes just as long.

The referee has a word with both keepers before we begin.

Heaven gets in touch via email:

Even as a fierce Nigeria fan I’m really enjoying this match … It’s a stone cold classic and could go either way … I wish I was in an Abidjan bar soaking up the vibe right now … The quality is immense …

Me too! Though my nerves are through the roof, as they always are when it comes to penalties.

Huge pressure for both these sides. Senegal face getting eliminated in the last 16, which would be an awful showing for the defending champions. Ivory Coast will want to get over the line in front of their faithful fans after an awful showing in the groups.

Wow! We go to penalties!

120+2 min: CLOSE! Pépé puts a great ball in for Haller who is right in front of goal, but the striker struggles under pressure from Koulibaly.

120+1 min: A ball is swung in but Mendy smothers it.

120 min: The referee gives at least two minutes of added time in the second-half of extra time.

115 min: Some substitutes are about to be made. But there is a delay. I think the Ivory Coast players/staff are discussing who to keep on for penalties. Eventually the change comes with Singo coming on for Kossounou. Senegal also make a change with Bamba Dieng coming on for Diallo.

113 min: End to end stuff right now! Ivory Coast have a chance after Kouamé plays the rebound of Kessié’s shot into Haller but Mendy makes a crucial save. Senegal then counter and Konan gets the smallest of touches to end the attack.

111 min: The hosts are playing as if they’re the defending champions and not the team that was in tears a few days ago after their final group game. But this Senegal side is clinical. All it takes is one moment.

109 min: A good ball from Adingra and Haller is lurking but the striker is behind Mendy who comes out and makes the catch.

106 min: Aurier hits a cross and instead of finding the head of Haller, it finds the arms of a supporter in row Z. He apologises with a smile. Neither of the teams look as if they are playing for a penalty but we’re definitely seeing some tired leg.

One last chance for either of these sides to score from open play. Or else we go to spot kicks.

105+1 min: WHAT A SAVE! Mané receives a cross and he’s one on one against Fofana but the keeper stretches out, makes himself big and denies him. A huge, huge, huge moment! That’s the last kick of the first-half of extra time.

102 min: Fofana is OK. Senegal take their corner and Koulibaly heads it down for Diallo who attempts a bicycle kick. Not a bad effort but it’s not on target.

100 min: Fofana misreads a cross and he clatters into the post. An unfortunate accident and the keeper is down getting treatment.

99 min: It has been a pretty pleasant atmosphere but now boos ring out when Senegal have the ball. And the cheers are just as deafening when the ball goes out of play. The fans certainly smell blood.

97 min: JUST WIDE! Aurier’s shot from distance beats Mendy and just whistles past the far post. It looked as if he thought that was in for a second before the realisation hit. Senegal under pressure at the moment.

96 min: I Sarr, who hasn’t had his best game, comes off for his club teammate Ndiaye.

95 min: Aurier gets booked for a tackle on Mané. That has been coming.

94 min: Adingra takes the ball of Koulibaly and it opens up for him! But yikes, it’s a poor shot despite having open space. He could have done better.

92 min: I Sarr receives the ball near the box but he’s well offside.

How much more fight do these two sides have?

Let’s go through some emails while the two sides regroup!

Kári, who emailed earlier about Senegal’s risky play of defending a one goal lead, writes:

On the balance of play, Senegal still seem likelier to go through, but on the balance of play they should’ve been two or three goals up. Aliou Cissé, who I greatly admire, let the momentum slip away from his team towards Ivory Coast and now the Lions of Teranga are at risk of adding to the long streak of reigning African champions not reaching the quarter-finals.

I am inclined to agree. There were moments, specifically in the first half where Senegal opted to slow the game down as if they were a few goals up. It’s been a masterclass of defending in many ways but it has shown how in the balance it all is.

Jon has his say:

I am rooting hard for Ivory Coast. I want the hosts to go as far as possible. The atmosphere looks fantastic and I think it’s a real boost if they continue on.

The stadium has been loud and proud since kick-off. If the hosts get knocked, I do agree that there will be a deflation of excitement. They have to earn it though!

The whistle blows but it’s not full-time. We go to extra-time!

90+6 min: A deflected shot from Gueye goes out for a corner. Can Senegal muster up a winner at the death? They can’t. The ball is too wide and it goes out on the other end of the pitch.

90+3 min: Ivory Coast win a free-kick. Earlier in the match, they haven’t been able to take advantage of set pieces because of the lack of height. But now Haller is in the box for the Elephants …

Pépé swings it in, but it’s too deep. A wasted opportunity.