Guinea Coach Kaba Diawara Calls Out Senegal’s Arrogance As ‘Big Teams’ Exit AFCON 2023

• Senegal players have been accused of being arrogant following their AFCON exit
• The defending champions were knocked out by Ivory Coast on post-match penalties
• AFCON 2023 has proven unpredictable, with the top-five ranked teams already out

Guinea national team head coach Kaba Diawara has taken a swipe at Senegal after they were eliminated from the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The defending champions were startled by hosts Ivory Coast on post-match penalties to exit the competition in the round of 16.

The Teranga Lions were overwhelming favourites, not only for the game against the hosts, but to go all the way and retain the title they won two years ago.

Franck Kessi came off the bench to score a late penalty to cancel an early strike from Habib Diallo and force the game into post-match penalties. Of the ten spot-kicks taken, only Moussa Niakhite missed his to complete the redemption story for the Elephants.

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Ivory Coast were technically out of the competition after a 4-0 drubbing by Equatorial Guinea on the final day of group-stage action but were rescued by Morocco. The Atlas Lions beat Zambia to ensure the hosts went through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Diawara: Why Senegal were knocked out of AFCON

Diawara has now linked Senegal's bewildering elimination to 'arrogance.'

"Nothing is certain at this AFCON. It has taught every team that humility and hard work are important. Senegal are out of the competition because their players were arrogant and didn’t do the work," he told the Guardian's correspondent Osasu Obayiuwana.

Diawara will be hoping that his side don't get complacent after they saw off Equatorial Guinea in the round of 16. They will now play DR Congo in the second quarter-final on February 2.

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The Syli national team were beaten 2-0 by Senegal in the group stage.

AFCON 2023 quarter-finals preview

Sports Brief has done a preview for the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023. Nigeria, who knocked out five-time champions Cameroon, will play Angola.

The reward of Ivory Coast knocking out the defending champions will be a date against Mali. Cape Verde will face South Africa who knocked out pre-tournament favourites Morocco.