The Ivorians, reduced to ten in the first half, have once again achieved an enormous feat. Incredible, unbelievable, massive, invincible – all the words in the dictionary could hardly describe the enormous feat achieved by Emerse Faé’s team. In the heat of Bouaké and within the cauldron of the Stade de la Paix, the Ivorian coach sprinted towards an unknown destination at the moment of his team’s equalizer by Simon Adingra (90th minute). As darkness had settled over Bouaké, overshadowing the last hopes of the Ivorians who were 1-0 down and reduced to 10 men, Simon Adingra emerged and did the job, almost single-handedly.

The Brighton striker (Premier League) equalized in an indescribable atmosphere, triggering the eruption of the stadium. Just like their miraculous qualification after the first round, and their victory on penalties in the round of 16 against Senegal. The best was yet to come with Oumar Diakité’s backheel goal at the end of extra time (120th minute) after a shot from Seko Fofana. Diakité, in tears after the rout in the first round against Equatorial Guinea (0-4) when the Elephants were on the brink of elimination from the AFCON, became the improbable hero.

The tears this time were for the opposing camp, the Malians who let slip their place in the semi-finals. The Ivorian miracle continues… But Odilon Kossounou, already cautioned for the penalty incident and teetering on the edge since the beginning of the match, cracked before half-time by committing another foul on Sinayoko who had opened up a path to goal. Second yellow card and a logical expulsion for the Ivorian center-back.

The Elephants would have to play with 10 men for at least one half, with Max-Alain Gradel deployed as a right-back after the break and the substitution of Serge Aurier. Dorgeles, a symbol in itself! The Malian midfielder, born in Kayes to Ivorian parents, showed measured joy when celebrating his goal. However, he had every reason to be proud, as his opening goal was magnificent; a 20-meter strike that found the top corner, freezing the Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana as well as the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.

But the Elephants are resilient! Even with ten men, trailing and dominated, they found the strength to equalize in the final minutes of the second half and push the Malians into extra time. They could have even taken the lead with Sébastien Haller’s header hitting the crossbar (95th minute). Surprisingly, this equalizer elevated Emerse Faé’s men, enabling them to play better, free themselves, and be buoyed by the magnificent orange-clad crowd.

Mali was contained, displaying its vulnerability and unable to make a difference, until Diakité’s backheel. The Ivorians are in the semi-finals and they deserve it. This team is not a steamroller; they struggled to dictate play against this very skillful Malian team. The powerful midfield, embodied by the Fofana-Kessié duo, often encountered the perpetual movement of the Malian midfielders, but they possess a heart that moves mountains and now have a crowd totally in their favor.

Will these strengths be enough to beat the DRC in the semi-finals and go for the Cup? “Impossible is not Ivorian,” would reply the 40,000 spectators in Bouaké and the 27 million Ivorians.