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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Elephants Qualify for Brazil 2014



Cote d'Ivoire qualified for their third World Cup in a row by drawing 1-1 with Senegal in Casablanca, Morocco.
The Ivorians emerged as 4-2 aggregate winners, but it took a Salomon Kalou goal deep into stoppage time to make sure of their place in Brazil.
A Moussa Sow penalty late in the game had put Senegal within one strike of taking the place themselves.
The 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists missed a golden chance seconds before Kalou struck on the counter-attack, reports the BBC.
The equaliser was barely deserved but Ivorians will give that little thought as they begin to make plans for next summer's tournament in Brazil.
In both 2006 and 2010, the Elephants were placed in tough groups so they will be hoping for kinder opposition when the draw for the finals is made on 6 December.
They qualify unbeaten but that record was in serious danger after a largely lifeless display by Sabri Lamouchi's side.
The match was played in Morocco after Senegal were barred from playing in Dakar following a riot at a Nations Cup qualifier against the Ivorians last year.
Denied home advantage, the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists nevertheless forced much of the play, after coach Alain Giresse made five changes to the side that lost 3-1 in last month's opening leg in Abidjan.
Having overlooked Chelsea striker Demba Ba for the tie, the Frenchman continued to surprise by dropping regular captain Mohamed Diame.
But it was one of those who retained his starting place, Dame Ndoye, who had the first chance, his header goalwards acrobatically cleared by Didier Drogba.
Denmark-based Ndoye further troubled.

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