January 30, (THEWILL) – Monaco winger Krepin Diatta launched an angry tirade against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after Senegal, the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, were knocked out of the 2024 tournament by Ivory Coast on penalties on Monday. The 24-year-old accused CAF of being “corrupt” and claimed they had “killed” Senegal’s chances of progressing to the quarter-finals.
His outburst came after the last-16 tie finished 1-1 after extra time, with Ivory Coast prevailing 5-4 in the resulting penalty shootout in Yamoussoukro. Senegal were leading 1-0 early in the second half when Ismaila Sarr went down under a challenge from Odilon Kossounou in the Ivorian box, but referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho waived away claims for a penalty without reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Ivory Coast later equalised from a disputed penalty of their own to force extra time and penalties. “You go to the VAR to give them a penalty, while our guy picks up the ball 40 metres from goal, goes on a run into the box and you don’t want to go to the VAR?” raged Diatta afterwards. “I’m sorry but they have killed our competition.”
The result means Senegal become the latest AFCON holders to fall at the first knockout stage, a remarkable record that now stretches back over a decade. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast progressed to a quarter-final clash with either Mali or Burkina Faso on Saturday.
Diatta could now face disciplinary action from CAF for his stinging criticism of the refereeing and use of VAR during the tie. CAF has yet to comment on his remarks.
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.
