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Ivory Coast progressed into the semifinals of the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations after beating Togo 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended 0-0 at the Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal, on Saturday. The Elephants started strong and came close to scoring in the 11th minute when Laurent Magbi let loose with a low 20-yard pile driver just past the right-hand post. Togo created their first significant chance in 17th minute when some good build-up play resulted in Messan Toudji finding space 14-yards out from goal, but he saw his attempt brilliantly saved by the keeper. Ivory Coast should have taken the lead two minutes later when Magbi met a left-sided free-kick into the box with a strong header, but his effort went over the crossbar from six-yards out. The Elephants bossed the remainder of the half, but could not make their dominance pay as the teams entered the break locked at 0-0. It was the more of the same from Ivory Coast at the start of the second half with Frederic Kouadio firing a powerful shot from the edge of the box a whisker wide in the 51st minute. On the hour mark Ange Pony also tried his luck from long range for the Elephants, but his effort also narrowly missed the target. In the 75th minute Aboubacar Doumbia almost gave Ivory Coast the lead when he met a right-wing cross, but his eight-yard header shaved the top of the crossbar. Neither side could find a winner in regulation time as the match ended goalless. In the penalty shoot-out Togo's Akate Gnama missed and Amekoudi Dodji saw his attempt saved as the Elephants won 4-2. Ivory Coast will now face Ghana in the semifinals of the Cup competition on October 9 while Togo head home.
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TOG
