An unusual moment of consolation at the Africa Cup of Nations is going viral.
“Mali coach Erique Schell had to be cooled down with a bottle of water after his team’s loss to Ivory Coast,” sports media outlet Sports Bible reported on social media on Thursday (KST).
Mali faced the Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade de Bouaké in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, on April 4 (KST), and came from behind to lose 1-2.
Mali had a great opportunity early in the match. In the 16th minute, Côte d’Ivoire’s Odilon Kossounou was shown a yellow card for a foul on an opposing striker inside the penalty box and was awarded a penalty kick.
It was a golden opportunity for Mali to take the lead, but it was not to be. Kicker Adama Traore took the ball confidently, but Ivory Coast’s Yahia Fofana blocked it.
Just before halftime, things turned in Mali’s favor. In the 44th minute, Ivory Coast’s Kossounou was shown a yellow card for blocking a Malian attack. He had already been cautioned and was sent off for accumulating cautions.
It was Mali who scored the first goal. In the 26th minute of the second half, Nene Dorzele’s mid-range shot went straight into the Ivory Coast goal. With their numerical advantage, it looked like Mali would advance to the last four.
Toward the end of the game, Côte d’Ivoire woke up. In the 45th minute, a scuffle broke out inside the Mali penalty box, and Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra scored the equalizer with a focused shot.
The game went into extra time. It was the Ivory Coast who had the last laugh. In the second minute of extra time, Oumar Diakite scored the winning goal off a heel kick from Seko Fofanya. Diakite took off his jersey in celebration and was sent off for accumulated cautions.
Mali had two more men on the pitch, but there wasn’t enough time to turn the tie 파워볼게임 around, and the game ended in favor of the Ivory Coast.
After the match, Mali coach Erique Schell said: “It’s hard to accept. We were able to play a great game. In the last few minutes we fell apart. It’s sad because our players are talented and deserve more.”
Coach Schell added: “I think there are a lot of teams that don’t do what we’re doing. I asked the players to play to win. We played a good game.”
An unusual consolation moment made headlines. Coach Schell squatted down after the game and held his face in his hands. A man who appeared to be the Mali coach splashed water on his head and neck.
It’s interesting to note that Coach Schell didn’t react at all: he touched his face as the water hit him, and the person spraying him didn’t say anything. It’s still unclear why he was sprayed.