16th November, 2013
Ivory Coast joined Nigeria in the World Cup finals on Saturday after a 1-1 draw against Senegal gave them a 4-2 aggregate win on a tense night in neutral Casablanca.
Ivory Coast reached a third successive World Cup but they had to survive a tense conclusion to their play-off second leg clash after Senegal had gone ahead 1-0 on the night through a 77th-minute penalty by substitute Moussa Sow after the lively Sadio Mane was fouled by Didier Drogba.
Another goal would have put Senegal through on away goals but Ivory Coast finished on top when Salomon Kalou drew his team level in stoppage time courtesy of a quick counter attack just moments after Kara Modji failed to double Senegal’s lead from six yards.
Earlier on Saturday, Nigeria qualified for a fifth World Cup after beating Ethiopia 2-0 at home in Calabar for a 4-1 winning aggregate.
In a match played in Casablanca after Senegal were punished for crowd trouble at home, Ivory Coast attacked from onset, forcing the Senegalese to concede two corners in the first five minutes.
Idrissa Gueye of Senegal fired at the Ivorian goal from the edge of the box after 13 minutes, but the ball sailed wide.
In the 18th minute, goalkeeper Boubacar Barry did well to keep out a Senegal free-kick as the home team pressed for an opening goal.
Gervinho, from Italian club Roma, continued to be a serious threat to the Senegalese defence with his tricky down the flanks.
In the 34th minute, Papis Cisse fired at goal for Senegal, but his snap shot again did not trouble goalkeeper Barry.
Yaya Toure was denied a goal in the 42nd minute when he got into the box and fired at goal but a Senegal defender got his foot to block the shot for a corner.
Sadio Mane came close to giving Senegal the lead in the 63rd minute but his shot sailed wide off target.
Senegal continued to pile on the pressure after their penalty in the 77th minute for the goal that would have qualified them for the World Cup, but it was not to be.