HOST nation Ivory Coast defeated title-holders Senegal on penalties to reach the quarter-finals and keep their dream of winning AFCON alive.
Former AC Milan man Frank Kessie was the hero on the night, scoring the equaliser in the 86th minute before dispatching the winning penalty in the shootout.
The victory came after the elephants looked set for a humiliating group stage exit just last week, with the Ivorians being humbled 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea, their worst ever home defeat.
They progressed to the knockout stages as the worst of the four best third-placed sides which saw them sack manager Jean-Louis Gasset.
Emerse Faé was appointed on a temporary basis, with his first game being the daunting task of the title-holders.
His side got off to the worst possible start when Habib Diallo gave Senegal the lead within four minutes after he rifled home Sadio Mane a cross from close range.
The next goal didn’t come until over 80 minutes later when former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe was brought down by Mendy in the box.
Kessie stepped up and cooly slotted past Mendy to send the game to extra-time.
Neither side managed to force a victory in the additional time and it came down to penalties where the hosts triumphed, scoring all five to secure a famous win.
The Ivory coast will face either Mali or Burkina Faso in the last eight on Saturday where they’ll be just three games away from winning the trophy on home soil.
