Hamari Traore: Mali Captain Harasses Referee After AFCON Elimination to Hosts Ivory Coast

• Host Ivory Coast have eliminated Mali from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
• They played most of the game with 10 men after Odilon Kossounou’s red card
• Scenes broke out in the final minute of the match, with Mali players circling the referee

Ivory Coast are through to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals after beating Mali 2-1, and the losers created a scene at the end of the game.

The host country reached the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams and have found a way to make the last four, joining fellow Group A member Nigeria and DR Congo.

A late goal on the stroke of 90 minutes by Brighton and Hove Albion star Simon Adingra sent the game to extra time after they played the second half with 10 men following Odilon Kossounou's red card.

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Oumar Diakite won it for Cote d'Ivoire in the final seconds of the extra time, diverting Seko Fofana’s volley home after a freekick was cleared to his path.

Mali star Traore harasses referee

A wild scene broke out after Diakite’s goal as the Malian players circled the centre referee, Mohamed Adel, in a protest. As spotted by Centre Goals, Hamari Traore made contact with Adel.

The referee showed him a red card, which meant he issued three in the game, including one for match-winner Diakite for taking off his shirt after his goal.

Ivory Coast will play the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semis, while Nigeria will play South Africa after beating Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties, with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saving four spot-kicks, a record per CAF Online.

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Sports Brief reported on Nene Dorgeles not celebrating Mali’s opener against Ivory Coast despite scoring a goal that could be considered one of the best of the tournament.

It was later revealed that the youngster, though he was born in Mali, his parents were Ivorians, and he spent most of his childhood on vacation in Abidjan.

It is a rare occurrence in national football. Switzerland’s Breel Embolo scored against the country of his birth, Cameroon, at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.