In a nail-biting encounter on Monday, January 29, Ivory Coast emerged victorious over Senegal in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, securing their spot in the quarterfinals through a penalty shootout (1-1, 4-5). The Teranga Lions, aiming to break the ‘curse’ haunting African champions, have struggled to reach the quarterfinals since 2010.
Despite an impressive group stage showing with three consecutive victories, Aliou Cissé’s squad couldn’t sustain their dominance. Ivory Coast, considered the underdog, clinched a surprising win in the penalty shootout. The Elephants demonstrated greater efficiency, converting five attempts, while the Teranga Lions faltered with a missed shot.
Senegal’s exit intensifies the grip of the ‘curse’ on African champions. Notably, since 2010, no titleholder has managed to advance to the AFCON quarterfinals.
Recalling previous instances, in 2012, defending champion Egypt failed to qualify, finishing fourth in their qualification group. In 2013, Zambia, the reigning champion, placed third in their group, falling short of progressing to the final stage. In 2015, Nigeria, the titleholder, also missed qualification.
The following years, the pattern persisted – Ivory Coast, the reigning champion in 2017, finished third in their group; Cameroon in 2019 was eliminated in the round of 16 by Nigeria, and in 2021, Algeria finished last in their group, exiting the tournament in the group stage. The resolution of this persistent ‘curse’ remains uncertain and awaits the next edition of the tournament.
The upcoming quarterfinal matches maintain the suspense and excitement of the Africa Cup of Nations, with two captivating fixtures scheduled for this Tuesday. At 5pm GMT, the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium will be the battleground for an intense clash between Mali and Burkina Faso. Subsequently, the Stade de San Pédro will host another thrilling match at 8pm, featuring Morocco and South Africa.
