A 3-0 win over Niger has put Ivory Coast through to the Finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Goals from Serge Aurier, Max Gradel and Wilfried Kanon did the damage for the Elephants, who now are guaranteed to progress thanks to a better head-to-head record against Group K rivals Madagascar, no matter what happens in the final round of matches.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS:
🇳🇪 Niger 0-3 Côte d'Ivoire 🇨🇮
A big away victory sends the Elephants to the #TotalAFCON. 🐘🏆#TotalAFCONQ2021 | @FIFCI_tweet pic.twitter.com/DfoTVhcJ5E
— CAF (@CAF_Online) March 26, 2021
They came from a goal behind – Pierre Kunde scoring first for the Indomitable Lions – thanks to Kuca, a Macky Bagnack own goal, and a fine third by Ryan Mendes.
A key factor in the game was the strong Atlantic wind, which was at the backs of the Cape Verde players in the second half.
Their forward players were frequently able to pounce on long balls pumped forward and tear into the Cameroon defence.
This was very much how Cape Verde scored their third, Mendes gathering the ball near the halfway line and bursting past two Cameroon defenders before slotting neatly home.
Meanwhile in Group I, Congo drew 0-0 with Senegal. Congo now need only a point from their last game against Guinea-Bissau to be sure of being in Cameroon in 2022.
