DROGBA QUALIFIES COTE D IVOIRE TO BRAZIL 2014. Cote dIvoire sealed their place at the 2014 World Cup finals after surviving a Senegal onslaught to draw 1:1 in Casablanca and beat the Teranga Lions 4:2 on aggregate in the playoff. Substitute Moussa Sow gave the Senegalese the lead from the spot on 75 minutes to set up a nervy end, before Salomon Kalou grabbed a last-gasp equaliser to seal the Elephants place in Brazil. The Senegalese had lost the first leg 3:1 in Abidjan and the odds were heavily stacked against them overturning the score in neutral Casablanca. But the young Lions took to their task brightly from the start as they fought to upset their mighty rivals who failed to assert themselves as they did in the opening leg. The first half was a ding dong affair, but the Lions completely dominated the second 45 minutes and must blame their own poor finishing for the final outcome. They took the lead on 75 minutes when Sow converted a penalty after the legendary Didier Drogba had fouled a player in the box. It was a nail-biting end for both sides as the Lions pushed for an additional goal which could have seen them through to Brazil. However moments after missing a gilt-edge opportunity to win the tie in stoppage time, the Senegalese paid the price as the Elephants broke free and reigning African Player of the Year Yaya Toure set up Kalou to strike a low shot home and seal the World Cup ticket. Nigeria and Cote dIvoire have now qualified for the Mundial.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 00:07:27 +0000
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