Senegal Crashed Out of 2023 AFCON

Defending champions Senegal have been eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament by Cote d’Ivoire.

After a blistering start in the tournament where Aliou Cissé’s side won all three of their games in Group C, Cote d’Ivoire who narrowly qualified for the Round of 16 stunned the Lions of Teranga at Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro.

Senegal took an early lead in the game with succeeding efforts to level and extend by both sides proving futile.

The Elephants finally came through with a leveller when Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy brought Nicolas Pepe down in the 84th minute, awarding the opponent a penalty.

After extra time with a level scoreline, the game was pushed into a penalty shootout where Senegal got eliminated on 5-4 penalties.

The outcome continues AFCON’s trend in which defending champions have failed to advance past the Round of 16 since 2010.

Alious Cisse characterised the game as strange and complicated during the post-match press conference.

“The match was strange and complicated; we could have won the game. We lost on penalties; we kept our lead until the last 5 minutes of the match. I am disappointed after this defeat, especially after the performance we put in during the match and from the first match of the competition.”

Meanwhile, the hosts have advanced to the Round of 8.