Kigali (Rwanda), Feb 8 (IANS) African football giants Cote d’ Ivoire finished third at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after beating Guinea 2-1 in a play-off game at the Amahoro Stadium here.
Guinea should have taken the lead early in the 26th minute but Ibrahim Sory Sankhon had his penalty saved by the Cote d’ Ivoire goalkeeper Abdoul Karim Cisse on Sunday, reports Xinhua.
After 31 minutes Guinea goalkeeper Abdoul Aziz Keita failed to stop a back pass by Mohamed Youla and gave the opponents a 1-0 lead. The ‘Elephants’ of Cote d’ Ivoire increased their lead after three minutes when Gbgnon Badie finished beautifully from a Essis Baudelaire Fulgence Aka cross.
Guinea returned charged in the second-half and got another penalty when Cheick Ibrahim Comara tackled in the box. Guinea had a second penalty saved with Alseny Camara the taker this time.
Guinea coach Mohamed Kanfory Bangoura made some changes and Guinea pulled one back after 86 minutes with Aboubacar Leo Camara scoring. Camara capitalised on a good Alseny Bangoura cross to slot in the ball.
“Although we would have wished to win the trophy, we are happy to finish third with young players,” said Cote d’ Ivoire coach Michel Dussuyer after the game attended by over 22,000 spectators.
Guinea captain Abdoul Aziz Keita was not happy about the loss. “We had two chances through penalties and failed to convert. We had a bad day,” said Keita.