One Of The Most Dramatic Endings To An AFCON Game Just Happened Between Ivory Coast And Sierra Leone
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare was left in tears and crumpled on the ground, after gifting Sierra Leone a late equaliser in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sierra Leone managed to grab a surprise point in their opening group game of AFCON, when goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara's man of the match performance earned them a 0-0 draw with Algeria.
On Sunday evening, it was once again a story of a goalkeeper that defined Sierra Leone's game, only this time it was Ivory Coast's number one who made the headlines.
With his team leading 2-1 deep in injury time, Sangare went to collect a header back from his own defender, and stop it going for a corner.
The 35-year-old got caught up in the pitch and could only spill the ball, as he smacked against the ground, and was left in pain and tears as Alhaji Kamara made it 2-2.
🗣️ "INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE!"
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 16, 2022
Sierre Leone have been gifted a dramatic late equaliser after the pitch conditions led to a goalkeeping howler 👀
You have to see this to believe it! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H1XIFmimkx
The Ivory Coast keeper knew he messed up after the ball left his grasp 😩 pic.twitter.com/AD8d4xXZeO
— 🇨🇩🇸🇱 (@F1avs) January 16, 2022
Sangare isn’t pretending. He’s really injured. Probably popped his knee!
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) January 16, 2022
I don’t want to blame Ali Sangarè for this.
— #AFCON2021 ✪ (@MickyJnr__) January 16, 2022
I think the pitch in Limbe is so bad and terrible hence it resulted in that blunder.
What about you? 👀#TeamCotedIvoire #Sangare #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/PhBffU2KEK
Sangare couldn't even continue after the incident, such was the pain he was in and, with all three substitutes having been made by François Zahoui, Serge Aurier had to go in goal for the remainder of the game.
Serge Aurier ends the Ivory Coast match as a very unhappy goalkeeper. pic.twitter.com/PRHJdP7Ses
— The18 (@the18com) January 16, 2022
Serge Aurier, gardien de la Côte d'Ivoire le temps de quelques minutes. 🇨🇮🧤 pic.twitter.com/OtQQg7Vrfp
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) January 16, 2022
Cote d'Ivoire had kicked off their tournament with a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea and would have been expecting to pick up another three points to secure their place in the knockout stages.
Sebastian Haller continued his brilliant form this season, where he's scored 10 goals in six Champions League games, by opening the scoring after 25 minutes.
Musa Noah Kamara made it 1-1 in the 55th minute but parity only lasted 10 minutes, as Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe once again but Ivory Coast ahead.
Of course it would be Sierra Leone who had the last laugh, with Kamara's equaliser.
Topics: Ivory Coast, Africa Cup Of Nations
Ryan Sidle