DBasia.news – AC Milan midfielder, Franck Kessie’s goal from a first-half penalty kick was enough to lead Ivory Coast to a 1-0 win over Niger in the opening match of the 2021 African Nations Cup Group K qualifier in Abidjan.
It was the second penalty for the hosts after Max Gradel failed to convert a similar kick in the first half after the player fought with his colleague and Arsenal striker, Nicolas Pepe on who should have kicked the penalty.
Pepe received the first penalty after being tackled by the opposing player and wanted to kick the penalty kick, but Gradel took it instead. Grandel’s kick was successfully countered by Niger goalkeeper, Kassaly Daouda. Instead Kessie successfully conquered Daouda from a similar kick.
Madagascar also won their match in the group after beating Ethiopia 1-0 in Antananarivo.
Midfielder, Rayan Raveloson, scored his first international goal early in the first half to ensure Madagascar’s surprise victory at the 2019 African Cup in Egypt after reaching the quarter-finals on his debut in the African Cup finals.