Africa Cup of Nations

YVES BISSOUMA has been playing at the Africa Cup of Nations despite suffering from MALARIA.The Tottenham star suffered heartbreak in the quarter-finals as host nation Ivory Coast knocked out Mali.
Yves Bissouma has been suffering from malaria at AfconCredit: Getty
Eric Chelle confirmed the Tottenham star’s conditionCredit: AP
Ivory Coast knocked Mali out of Afcon in the quarter-finalsCredit: AFP
Mali were beaten despite leading going into the closing stages of the match.
Brighton and Hove Albion star Simon Adingra equalised for Ivory Coast in the 90th minute to force extra-time.
The match looked set to be decided on penalties until Oumar Diakité fired the winner in the 122nd minute.
Ivory Coast’s achievement was even more remarkable as they were reduced to ten men in the 43rd minute as Odilon Kossounou was sent off for two bookable offences.
READ MORE IN FOOTBAL
After the winning goal both teams had players see red as Diakité followed his goal with wild celebrations that saw him given his marching orders.
Mali’s Hamari Traoré was also sent off for his complaints to the referee.
Mali head coach Eric Chelle confirmed that Bissouma as well as Moussa Diarra had been playing in the tournament with malaria.
The coach insisted that Bissouma’s case was “not so serious” due to him being born in West Africa.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
This meant that the midfielder was able to play, but Diarra’s case was different.
Chelle said: “You know Yves and Moussa were suffering from malaria, regarding the blood tests.
“It’s not so serious, because someone born in West Africa is used to malaria, he could play but for Moussa it was different.
“It was the first time he contracted malaria, so he started some light training.
“We’ll take things carefully, but there’s no outbreak or anything.”
Ivory Coast will face DR Congo in the semi-final.
DR Congo reached the final four after a brilliant win against Guinea.
During the game, former West Ham star Arthur Masuaku scored a stunning replica goal from his time in the Premier League.
South Africa have also reached the semis after beating Cape Verde on penalties in which Manchester United flop Bebe missed from the spot and will face Nigeria. More

BEBE saw his penalty saved as Cape Verde was dumped out of Afcon after a shootout against South Africa.The two sides could not be separated in regular time as the scores were stuck at 0-0 during the quarter-final at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

Bebe saw his penalty saved against South AfricaCredit: AFP
The former Man United ace crashed out of Afcon with Cape VerdeCredit: AP
It was the same in extra-time as both teams failed to hit the back of the net.
Cape Verde and South Africa had plenty of chances, as there were 41 shots in the match.
However, their accuracy let them down with only eight shots finding the target throughout the game.
It was not meant to be for Bebe and Cape Verde, as four of their takers missed penalties.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Former Manchester United flop started the shootout for his side but saw his effort saved by Ronwen Williams.
The South African stopper went on to save all but Bryan Silva Teixeira Jr’s effort.
Williams was the first-ever goalkeeper to save four penalties in an Afcon shootout.
He credited his success to the team’s analysts, who sent him “many penalties to study”.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
Ronwen Williams denied Bebe’s penaltiesCredit: EPA
He saved three other efforts in the shootoutCredit: AP
He has already kept four clean sheets in the tournament and is making a name for himself with his performances.
South Africa will now face Nigeria in the semi-finals, which will be played on Wednesday at the Stade Bouaké.
In the other semi-final, the host nation Ivory Coast take on DR Congo on the same day.
Bebe, 33, joined Man United in 2010 from Portuguese outfit Vitoria de Guimaraes and was expected to be the next big thing.
However, the attacker only managed two appearances for the club during his four-year spell.
He left on a permanent deal in 2014 as he returned to Portugal and joined Benfica.
During Afcon, he did score a brilliant 45-yard free kick against Mozambique. More

NENE DORGELES refused to celebrate despite scoring for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations – for a very classy reason.The exciting playmaker, 21, produced an incredible moment of magic to fire Mali ahead in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.
Nene Dorgeles refused to celebrate after scoring for Mali against Ivory CoastCredit: AFP
The playmaker let fly from distance to break the deadlock in the Afcon quarter-finalCredit: Twitter @SkyFootball

Dorgeles cut inside from the left flank – dropping a defender on to his backside – before unleashing a superb strike from 25 yards that flew into the top corner to break the deadlock on 71 minutes.
The Red Bull Salzburg star immediately ran off in excitement at his wonder goal against the hosts.
But within moments he suddenly pulled up and lifted his hands to show he was not celebrating his goal-of-the-tournament contender – despite the excitement of his team-mates.
And there is a very valid and sweet explanation for the unusual reaction following such a phenomenal goal to put Mali ahead and within 20 minutes of the Afcon semis.
READ MORE ON AFCON
That is because although Dorgeles was born and raised in Mali, his parents were born in Ivory Coast.
And therefore he wanted to be respectful to his parents’ homeland where he regularly visits.
Fans on social media praised Dorgeles for his thoughtful reaction with emotions clearly running high.
One said: “I still can’t get over Nene Dorgeles refusing to celebrate. I’ve seen players refuse to celebrate against their former club, but never after scoring against his parents’ country.”
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
Another simply wrote: “Respect.”
And a third added: “Nene Dorgeles joins Breel Embolo as the only players in my mind who’ve apologised for scoring against the country of their parents. #classy”
Embolo reacted similarly at the 2022 World Cup when he scored for Switzerland against Cameroon, the country of his birth.
Normally the lack of celebration is reserved for club football when a player scores against their former team.
The Dorgeles goal, though, was just a fraction of the incredible drama.
In the first half, Adama Noss Traore saw his golden chance to put Mali in front from the penalty spot denied by a smart Yahia Fofana save.
Odilon Kossounou then picked up his second yellow card of the first half to reduce the Elephants to ten men.
Then just as it looked as though Ivory Coast’s chaotic run was going to end, they equalised through Simon Adingra in the 90th minute to force extra-time.
Sebastien Haller crashed a header against the crossbar in the added half an hour, while at the other end Willy Boly came within a whisker of scoring an own goal.
And as penalties looked inevitable, sub Oumar Diakite grabbed a winner in the 122nd minute with a clever flick to send the hosts into the final four and spark pandemonium in the Stade Bouake.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
However, there was still time for Diakite to get sent off as Ivory Coast – managed by interim boss Emerse Fae after Jean-Louis Gasset’s mid-tournament sacking – finished with nine men while Hamari Traore also saw red for heartbroken Mali.
Ivory Coast will play DR Congo in the semis after a wondergoal from Arthur Masuaku fired them through against Guinea.
Dorgeles’ parents are IvorianCredit: Twitter @oluwashina
He was in tears at the full-time whistle after the heartbreaking exitCredit: Getty
Ivory Coast scored their winner in the 122nd minuteCredit: AP More

ARTHUR MASUAKU has scored a stunning goal at the Africa Cup of Nations for the Democratic Republic of Congo – and fans have proved it was no fluke.The spectacular free-kick left supporters stunned, but some noticed it’s not the first time he’s pulled off the jaw-dropping effort.
Arthur Masuaku scored a stunning goal for DR Congo in the Afcon quarter-final vs GuineaCredit: Getty
The full-back looked to be floating a free-kick into the box for someone to attackCredit: X @SkyFootball
Instead he was aiming for the near post to beat the out-of-position goalkeeperCredit: X @SkyFootball
The effort flew into the top corner and DR Congo went 3-1 upCredit: X @SkyFootball
Masuaku celebrated with his teammatesCredit: Reuters

Masuaku, who used to play for West Ham, helped book DR Congo a spot in the Afcon semi-finals.
The full-back scored the third goal for the Leopards as they brushed Guinea aside with a 3-1 victory.
Masuaku took a free-kick from wide on the left-hand side in what appeared to be a crossing position.
DR Congo players lined up on the edge of the box anticipating a cross into the corridor of uncertainty.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
But Masuaku had other ideas, spotting Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone slightly out of position, the Besiktas star aimed for goal instead.
He floated an effort towards the near post and saw it fly into the back of the net, booking DR Congo a place in the last four.
Fans were blown away with the goal with one taking to social media to post: “WOW! THAT WAS INSANE!”
While another added: “Goal of the tournament for sure!”
Most read in Football
Other fans were quick to point out that the sneaky finish is something Masuaku has done before.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
The 30-year-old found the back of the net in an almost identical fashion back in 2021 while playing for West Ham.
In open play Masuaku caught out Eduoard Mendy, who was in goal for Chelsea at the time, by aiming for the near post when the Blues keeper was anticipating a cross.
One fan wrote: “He knew what he was doing!”
While another added: “The Masuaku signature. The near post cross goal.”
A third joked: “Is that Mendy in goal? As I’ve seen that before in a past life!”
Masuaku scored a similar goal against Chelsea in 2021
He caught Edouard Mendy out by floating it into the top corner at the near post More

FOOTBALL fans were left in hysterics after watching a Senegal player “turn into prime Shawn Michaels” at the Africa Cup of Nations.Holders Senegal were knocked out of the tournament on penalties on Monday night as hosts Ivory Coast progressed into the quarter-finals.
The Senegal player fell over by the far touchline after being dispossessedCredit: BBC via X formerly Twitter

He then acrobatically got back to his feet by flipping overCredit: BBC via X formerly Twitter
And he clattered into an Ivorian player after running offCredit: BBC via X formerly Twitter
But one moment in particular caught the attention of those on social media during first-half stoppage time.
As a Senegal player tried to dribble the ball out of his own half, he fell to the floor after losing possession.
But he leapt back up by throwing his feet in the air and landing upright on the pitch.
He then clattered into an Ivory Coast player while running off.
READ MORE ON AFCON
It was an impressive feat of athleticism that drew the eye of many online.
And one person compared him to WWE legend Shawn Michaels who performed a similar move in the ring.
They said: “Bloke turned into prime Shawn Michaels 😂😂😂.”
While another added: “😭😭😭😭😭 every single match has a moment that kills me 😂😂.”
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
And a third replied: “Gonna need the box set for this tournament when it’s done.”
Senegal crashed out of Afcon following a 5-4 defeat in the shootout.
Ivory Coast had cancelled out Habib Diallo’s fourth-minute opener through a late Franck Kessie spot kick.
And it was Kessie who then stepped up to send the Ivorians through to the last eight with the final penalty of the shootout.
After the match, Senegal’s Lamine Camara picked up Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and led him down the tunnel as he was beside himself in tears.
Ivory Coast will now face Mali or Burkina Faso for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The Senegal player was compared to WWE icon Shawn Michaels, rightCredit: AFP More