Ivory Coast advanced to the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on the same day that it fired its coach.
Ivory Coast only managed to qualify for the knockout stage, finishing as the fourth-best third-place team after Morocco’s 1-0 victory against Zambia in Group F on Wednesday.
After three games, the Copper Bullets had two points—one less than Ivory Coast, who was defeated 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in its last group match on Monday and was unable to guarantee its own advancement. This was due to Zambia’s defeat.
The main city in Ivory Coast, Abidjan, saw wild celebrations after Morocco’s victory, with pyrotechnics, street cheering, and automobile horn blasting by onlookers. The districts of Plateau and Cocody were connected by the Alassane Ouattara bridge, which was lit in the Moroccan flag’s colours of red and green.
Hakim Ziyech, the captain of Morocco, became a hero in his own community on Wednesday when he scored the game’s lone goal after Lawrence Mulenga had stopped Ayoub El Kaabi’s attempt in the 37th.
The Ivorian supporters in San Pedro who had witnessed the goal quickly celebrated, as did those who had heard about it from the other Tanzania vs. Congo game in Korhogo. The game finished 0-0.
Ziyech, who was serving a suspension issued by the Confederation of African Football earlier on Wednesday, made a heart-shaped gesture for coach Walid Regragui as he and his colleagues went to celebrate on the sidelines.
But the thrilling conclusion was painful for Ivory Coast fans. Around the hour mark, Zambia began to exert the most pressure, as Lameck Banda missed just wide. The Copper Bullets, who were pushing hard for an equaliser that would have guaranteed the hosts’ elimination, saw Lubambo Musonda fire over.
Mulenga made two stops in stoppage time to extend the suspense till the very end, but Morocco wasted late opportunities to secure the victory.
Coach Jean-Louis Gasset was fired by Ivory Coast earlier on Wednesday.
With seven points, Morocco became victorious in Group F, four ahead of Congo, who also made it to the round of 16. Tasmania and Zambia were eliminated with two points apiece.
GOALS FOR GROUP E DRY UP
In the inaugural goalless games of the tournament on Wednesday, Mali, South Africa, and Namibia all made it to the round of 16.
Mali won Group E with a 0-0 tie against Namibia, and South Africa secured second place on goal differential from Namibia with a 0-0 draw against Tunisia.
After finishing bottom of the group, Tunisia was eliminated, while Mali finished with five points, one more than South Africa and Namibia.
It was not good news for Ivory Coast at the moment, as Namibia advanced as one of the top four third-place finishers. The Elephants then required a win over Morocco.