On February 3rd, the quarterfinal clash in the Africa Cup of Nations took place between the national teams of Mali and Ivory Coast. The Ivorians secured a resilient victory in extra time with a decisive goal in the 120+2nd minute, overcoming the odds by playing with ten men since the 43rd minute of the encounter.
The hero of Ivory Coast's triumph was the 20-year-old forward from French club Reims, Umar Diakite. He netted the crucial goal that propelled his team to the semifinals. However, Diakite's celebration led to a yellow card for unsporting behavior, marking his second booking and resulting in his expulsion. Unfortunately, this means he will miss the crucial semifinal clash.
Ivory Coast's next opponent in the AFCON semifinals will be the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who secured their spot by defeating Guinea 3-1 in a previous encounter. The stage is set for an intense showdown as both teams vie for a spot in the final, promising fans and football enthusiasts another thrilling chapter in the ongoing African football spectacle.