By Daily Sports on November 18, 2019
Ivory Coast needed two penalties to defeat Niger 1-0 Saturday in the last matchday one qualifier for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Max-Alain Gradel missed the first spot-kick during the opening half after grabbing the ball from Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe, who won the penalty and wanted to take it.
Out-of-favour AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie was entrusted with the second spot-kick, awarded for handball midway through the second half.
Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda, who had brilliantly foiled Gradel, could not do it again, going the wrong way as Kessie planted the ball in the left corner.
It was an unconvincing performance by the 1992 and 2015 African champions, given they are ranked 56th in the world, 51 places above Niger.
Niger was playing for the first time under Frenchman Jean-Guy Wallemme who was only appointed last week.
The 52-year-old former defender previously coached Congo Brazzaville, three Algerian clubs and one in Morocco.
Ivory Coast shares first place in Group K with Madagascar, who beat Ethiopia 1-0 in Antananarivo thanks to a first-half goal from Rayan Raveloson. (AFP)
•PHOTO: Ivory Coast players
Source Daily Sports
Posted November 18, 2019
You may also like...
Award: Buffon, Messi, Ronaldo make UEFA list
_150x150.jpg)
Footballer considers legal action over photo error
New Imo State Sports Commission Boss Sets Agenda...
Wigan end City's quadruple bid
Dare Draws Fresh Plans For Tokyo 2020
FIFA bans Abuja Stadium as World Cup draw...
Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Aspinall requires further tests on eye injury in UK
Real Madrid impress but Vinicius tension grows - Clasico talking points
Rooney says struggling Liverpool lack leadership
NOC To Host FinalIOC Advanced Sport Management Course Module
4 Teams Lock Horns For N10m Tiger 5-Aside Football Battle In Awka
Nezianya, Odikpo, Balepo, Ndukuba, Chukwuleta For SWAN @60 Veterans’ Awards
Anambra FA Crisis: Igbokwe, 61 Years Old Football Administrator Protests Arrest, Detention
Gala European record thrills Osimhen
La Liga: 'I am enjoying football at Barca', Rashford eyes permanent move
CAF nomination thrills Flying Eagles captain
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,273 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,477 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,428 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,036 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,015 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,988 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,818 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,397 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,512 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,052 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,491 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,953 views)