SAN FRANCISCO, November 17, (THEWILL) –Â The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group K second leg qualifier for Cameroon 2022 came alive in Antananarivo on Matchday four between Ivory Coast and Madagascar at the Stade de Barikadimy.
In their capital city, the Madagascans found themselves behind in the fourth minute. AC Milan forward Franck Kessie scored a spot-kick awarded the Ivorians after Jeremy Morel handled the ball while trying to clear away a cross.
Even one goal behind, Madagascar remained in the game and proved a match for the Ivorians. However, creating the chances to trouble the visitors’ backline proved to be a difficult task.
Then, Côte d’Ivoire almost doubled their advantage when in the 42nd minute Kessie released Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe through. The left-footed winger got into the opposition area and let fly but his shot was blocked. A minute before half-time, Pepe this time curled in a beautiful cross inside the box, but Ibrahim Sangare miscued the shot a few yards from goal.
In the second half, possibly in response to the technical input at half time, the intensity went up. And, in five minutes, Madagascar found the equaliser. Their skipper Ibrahim Amada scored a peach of a goal. He was teed up by Morel, who made amends for the earlier penalty, and the midfielder struck a beautiful shot into the far left.
The goal only increased the tempo as the game was now a contest for each side to get into the final third for a winner. The imperial Kessie had a brilliant opportunity in the 63rd minute, but after a beautiful half turn inside the box, he sent his shot inches high.
With time running out in the second half, Kessie again had another go at goal. Shooting from range, his rasping shot needed to be finger-tipped onto the bar by the Madagascar keeper Melvin Adrien to keep it from going in.
There were no more goals in the fiery contest and both sides settled for a point each. The final round of matches next year are set to hold all the drama as these two teams are delicately poised in a seven-point tie at the top of table with Ethiopia snapping at their heels at third with six points.
THEWILL believes it will be an interesting group to follow to see how the remaining two matches determine who qualifies and who does not.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
