Wilfried Zaha scored the winner as Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire beat Mali 1-0 to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
The Crystal Palace forward, who has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal, raced on to Sylvain Gbohouo’s deep free-kick and got to the ball before Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
Mali had been wasteful with Moussa Marega and Moussa Djenepo both missing good opportunities when well placed.
The Ivorians are to play Algeria in the last eight on Thursday at 5pm.
The Elephants have won the competition twice – in 1992 and 2015 – but only advanced through this year’s opening phase as runners-up after losing 1-0 to group winners Morocco.
The Ivorians struggled in the first half against Group E winners Mali and failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Mali’s Moussa Djenepo, who this summer moved to Southampton from Standard Liege, posed a constant threat on the left wing but Marega scuffed a good chance wide at the near post when he failed to connect properly.
Abdoulay Diaby also had a free-kick turned over the bar by Ivorian goalkeeper Gbohouo before Djenepo wasted a good chance when he was indecisive in front of goal.
The Elephants came more into the game after the break with Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia being denied by Diarra.
However, Diarra was beaten a few minutes later when Zaha, who had been quiet throughout the match, reacted quickest to score in the 76th minute and take his country into the last eight.
Source: THISDAY
