Nigeria calm, DR Congo easy, Is Côte d’Ivoire feverish?


During the first two quarter-finals, Friday, Nigeria quietly won against Angola (1-0) and DR Congo mastered its subject to overcome Guinea (3-1). Time for the other two quarters, Saturday, with the clash between Mali and Ivory Coast, followed by an exciting Cape Verde – South Africa.

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5 mins

The day’s program (Paris time)

6 p.m.: Mali – Ivory Coast: our live

9 p.m.: Cape Verde – South Africa: our live

Read alsoFind the table for the final phase

The player to watch: Franck Kessié

At 27 years old, Franck Kessié is a pillar of the Ivory Coast midfield. And like his team, the Elephant took a mental dive during a complicated start to the CAN, before reviving against Senegal in the round of 16. The player, decisive by scoring his two penalties against the Lions of Téranga, now seems to have turned his head around and will undoubtedly be a strong asset for his selection on Saturday against Mali.

His portrait :Franck Kessié, symbol of a Ivory Coast team that has managed to raise its head

What happened yesterday

For once, the favorite ensures: Nigeria, last of the favorites for this CAN 2024, did not tremble against Angola, the “sensation” team of this edition. In a tactical match, a polite way of saying that we almost got bored, Lookman broke Angola’s defensive lock to secure the Super Eagles a place in the semi-final (1-0).

The Leopards roared against Guinea: Syli took the match from the right end by opening the score first, but make no mistake: it was the DR Congo who mastered their subject against the overwhelmed Guineans (3-1).

The Congolese reversed the score, before taking off with a sumptuous free kick from Masuaku at the end of the match. This is the first time since 2015 that the DRC has qualified for the semi-finals of a CAN.

In short

A Lion leaves the den: Karl Toko Ekambi, only 31 years old, announced that he was ending his international career, after the disappointing elimination of Cameroon in the round of 16 of the CAN. “A fourth African Cup of Nations chapter closes, the end of a story. Forever an indomitable Lion,” he wrote on Instagram. Winner of the 2017 CAN, the striker has scored 14 goals in 57 caps. He will now be able to devote himself to his club Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, under the orders of Steven Gerrard, where he signed during the CAN.

A Eelephant changes sides: Ivorian captain Serge Aurier signed his transfer to Galatasaray on Friday. He joins the Turkish club to fill the recent departure to Bayern Munich of Frenchman Sacha Boey. At 31, Serge Aurier will discover his seventh club, after Lens, Toulouse, PSG, Tottenham, Villarreal and Nottingham Forest, where he has been playing since 2022. A great career trajectory.

Senegal – Ivory Coast referees sanctioned? The refereeing decisions during this match had caused a lot of ink to flow, like Sadio Mané who miraculously escaped a red after having “cut” Sangaré, while the Senegalese protested over a penalty not whistled after a foul on Sarr. Senegalese defender Krépin Diatta did not mince his words: You killed us, you are corrupt! Keep your African Cup! (…) They killed our competition.” Well according to Sports News Africa, CAF dismissed the entire refereeing team for the end of the tournament: the Gabonese Pierre Atcho and his assistants Boris Ditsoga (Gabon) and Carine Atezambong ( Cameroon), as well as Samir Guezzaz (Morocco) and Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt) at the VAR.

The CAN news


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Catch the CAN news every match night live at 11:10 p.m. on France 24

Today’s statement

For Guinea coach Kaba Diawara, his team missed a pivotal moment in the match ultimately lost to DR Congo (3-1): “We lacked efficiency. We have this 2-1 ball, and I think that if we score it changes everything. On the counter, we take the penalty. So at that moment, the mentality changes and the Congolese are gaining the upper hand.”

Picture of the day

Guinean goalkeeper Koné can only deflect Masuaku’s deceptive free kick into his own net (3-1 goal) during the match between DR Congo and Guinea in Abidjan, February 2, 2024. © Themba Hadebe, AP

We play the 82nd minute. DR Congo has a small goal lead against Guinea (2-1), before Masuaku takes an eccentric free kick. The master pyrotechnician of the Leopards makes the powder speak and propels an unstoppable strike into the top corner of Koné, who can only see the damage and deflect the ball into his own net. One of the best goals of this CAN 2024.

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