AFCON Quarter-Final: AFCON Stars Have to be Held Back from Attacking Referee after Last-Min Goal
- 3 months ago
Mali's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Ivory Coast descended into chaos after Mali players were forced to be held back from attacking the referee after the hosts' last-minute goal.
Mali players had to be held back from attacking the referee in their quarter-final AFCON clash against Ivory Coast.
The chaos occurred after the official blew the full-time whistle on Saturday (February 3) after the hosts' nation secured a last-minute victory thanks to Oumar Diakite's winner in the game's final seconds.
The referee, Adel Elsaid, called time on the thrilling clash moments later which angered several Mali players who believed there was time left on the clock due to numerous stoppages throughout the match.
Several furious Mali internationals confronted the referee who was forced to back up and was protected by a fellow official who attempted to hold back the fuming players who continued to get at him.
Captain Hamari Traore led the protests and even contacted Elsaid, who pushed the full-back in response before showing him a straight red card in an emotionally-charged football evening.
Mali began the action on top and was awarded a penalty in the first half but it was saved by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. The hosts then had a man sent off minutes before the break as Odilon Kossounou was shown a second yellow card for a rough challenge.
The first goal of the game was scored by Mali through substitute Nene Dorgeles - whose parents are from Ivory Coast - with the 21-year-old choosing not to celebrate the screamer he scored.
With Mali looking like they were heading to the semi-finals of the tournament, Ivory Coast were saved in the dying embers of the game by Brighton star Simon Adingra who scored in the 90th minute to take the clash to extra-time.
It looked as if the game was heading to penalties with neither team able to gain the upper hand but in the 122nd minute, Oumar Diakite backheeled Seko Fofana's shot from outside the box that beat Djigui Diarra to claim a famous win for the hosts.
The goalscorer was subsequently shown a second yellow card after taking his top off following the goal that will see Ivory Coast take on the winner of Cape Verde and South Africa in the semi-finals of the competition.
Mali players had to be held back from attacking the referee in their quarter-final AFCON clash against Ivory Coast.
The chaos occurred after the official blew the full-time whistle on Saturday (February 3) after the hosts' nation secured a last-minute victory thanks to Oumar Diakite's winner in the game's final seconds.
The referee, Adel Elsaid, called time on the thrilling clash moments later which angered several Mali players who believed there was time left on the clock due to numerous stoppages throughout the match.
Several furious Mali internationals confronted the referee who was forced to back up and was protected by a fellow official who attempted to hold back the fuming players who continued to get at him.
Captain Hamari Traore led the protests and even contacted Elsaid, who pushed the full-back in response before showing him a straight red card in an emotionally-charged football evening.
Mali began the action on top and was awarded a penalty in the first half but it was saved by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. The hosts then had a man sent off minutes before the break as Odilon Kossounou was shown a second yellow card for a rough challenge.
The first goal of the game was scored by Mali through substitute Nene Dorgeles - whose parents are from Ivory Coast - with the 21-year-old choosing not to celebrate the screamer he scored.
With Mali looking like they were heading to the semi-finals of the tournament, Ivory Coast were saved in the dying embers of the game by Brighton star Simon Adingra who scored in the 90th minute to take the clash to extra-time.
It looked as if the game was heading to penalties with neither team able to gain the upper hand but in the 122nd minute, Oumar Diakite backheeled Seko Fofana's shot from outside the box that beat Djigui Diarra to claim a famous win for the hosts.
The goalscorer was subsequently shown a second yellow card after taking his top off following the goal that will see Ivory Coast take on the winner of Cape Verde and South Africa in the semi-finals of the competition.