Ivory Coast rebounded from a challenging group stage to knockout defending champions Senegal after a stunning 5-4 penalty shootout victory.

Last night’s victory has set up an unexpected Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Mali. After a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, the hosts overcame the setback and secured a spot in the last 16 as one of the four best third placed teams.

A late coaching change, with Emerse Fae taking over from Jean-Louis Gasset, proved crucial. Borussia Dortmund’s Sebastian Haller came on as a substitute for his first minutes at the tournament to hand the hosts an injury boost.

Midfielder Seko Fofana acknowledged the challenges, stating, “It was difficult to see the people crying after that loss, but we’ve made up for that now, and so we’re all very happy.” Fofana praised the strategy and the impact of the new coach, Emerse Fae, despite his lack of previous senior coaching experience.

Senegal, having dominated Group D, fell victim to the AFCON curse, becoming the seventh consecutive title holder unable to progress beyond the Round of 16. Senegal coach Aliou Cissé expressed disappointment but urged dignified reactions in both victory and defeat.

In other action, Cape Verde advanced to the quarterfinals with a late penalty from Ryan Mendes, securing a 1-0 win over surprise last-16 opponents Mauritania. The Blue Sharks, who last reached the quarterfinals in 2013, now face South Africa in the next round.