AFCON 2023: Senegal has been punished, says RMC consultant

Following an impeccable group stage performance, Senegal was ousted by Ivory Coast in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations, despite Ivory Coast’s recent and striking defeat to Equatorial Guinea (4-0). Walid Acherchour, from the “Génération After” show on RMC, analyzed Senegal’s surprising elimination by Ivory Coast for Le 10 Sport.

Throughout the tournament, Senegal excelled in Group C, alongside Guinea, Cameroon, and Gambia, winning all their matches. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast faced challenges in Group A, including a severe loss to Equatorial Guinea. Nonetheless, the Elephants narrowly qualified for the next round and, against all odds, defeated Senegal after an intense penalty shootout (1-1, 5-4), under the leadership of Emerse Faé.

Walid Acherchour shared his thoughts on this unexpected elimination. According to him, Senegal, led by Sadio Mané and his team, made a critical error in underestimating Ivory Coast, especially after their rout against Equatorial Guinea. “Senegal’s elimination was surprising and unforeseen by many. Winning the title consecutively is a significant challenge.

Given their stellar initial performance and the vitality of their young midfielders, I expected Senegal to outclass Ivory Coast. However, opting for a cautious strategy after scoring proved to be counterproductive,” he explained, highlighting the shock caused by this elimination. He also criticized Senegal’s defensive tactic post-goal, considering it a risky approach, while reminding that being eliminated in a penalty shootout is not disastrous given Senegal’s recent successes.