In a surprising turn of events during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 match between Ivory Coast and Senegal, a controversial report by UK-based news outlet Daily Mail has triggered widespread anger among Africans on social media. The match, which saw Ivory Coast triumph over defending champions Senegal in a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout, was marred by allegations of unfair and racist-driven reporting.

Despite the impressive display of football by both teams, the Daily Mail’s coverage focused narrowly on a single incident where the referee consulted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to make a crucial penalty decision. The report erroneously claimed that Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe was booked for diving, whereas the official match report clarified that the booking was actually for Christian Kouame for dissent.

This misleading report, coupled with the emphasis on a singular incident, has sparked outrage among Africans, particularly from Ghana, Nigeria, and other nations, who have accused the media house of racism. Many argue that the standard of officiating in the AFCON surpasses that of the Premier League and express frustration at the apparent bias in the coverage.

The host nation, Ivory Coast, secured a remarkable victory over Senegal in the latest upset at the AFCON tournament. The Elephants, led by an interim coach after consecutive defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, faced the red-hot Teranga Lions at Stade de Yamoussoukro. The game featured a goal from Habib Diallo canceled out by a penalty converted by Frank Kessie in the regulation time, ultimately leading to a goalless extra time and a dramatic penalty shootout that decided the outcome.