AFCON 2023 : Quarterfinals Table Nears Completion

The air crackled in Côte d'Ivoire, not with lightening, but with the collective roar of a nation’s reborn. On January 29, 2024, the Elephants, once staggering on the brink of elimination, crushed defending champions Senegal in Yamoussoukro in a breath-taking display, snatching their ticket to the AFCON quarterfinals. The streets exploded in a radiant cacophony of celebration, a vibrant echo of the jubilant scenes on the pitch.
The Senegal-Côte d’Ivoire clash was the most awaited in Yamoussoukro, as well as in all the nooks and crannies of Côte d’Ivoire. While admitting that Senegal presented one of the best teams in this competition, some fans still believed that the hosts, that were almost booted out of the group phase could pull a surprise. A surprise that finally was. These Elephants, resurrected from the near-ashes of the group stage, had fought with the might of their ancestors, carrying the hopes of millions on their backs. Senegal, the tournament's golden darling, tasted the bitter dust of defeat, their nine-point fortress breached by the unyielding spirit of their Ivorian foes. The Senegalese have to come to terms with the aching reality of packing their bags this early; no one of them saw it coming. 
Meanwhile, in Abidjan, another drama unfolded. The "Blue Sharks" of Cape Verde, swift and cunning like their aquatic namesake, carved out a 1-0 victory over the valiant Mauritanians. Ryan Mendes's late penalty was the shark's tooth that pierced the determined defence, propelling Cape Verde to their seco...