AFCON player carries tearful teammate off the field after devastating loss
After Senegal’s round of 16 defeat to Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations, star Lamine Camara was inconsolable and had to be carried off the pitch by Cheikhou Kouyate as emotions took over after a penalty shootout loss. Ivory Coast responded well in the second half, missing several key chances to level the match. The home nation were then thrown a lifeline when Nicolas Pepe was brought down inside the penalty area, and Franck Kessie converted from the spot to take the game to extra time and then penalties.
Kessie was the hero again for Ivory Coast, scoring the decisive spot-kick, leaving the Senegal players distraught with the result. Metz midfielder Camara, visibly upset, struggled to even walk by himself because of his tears. Kouyate, an unused substitute for the match, scooped him up and carried him away from the pitch to take him out of sight of the celebrating home supporters.
The devastating nature of the defeat will live long in the memory of Camara, prompting speculation about his future with top European clubs monitoring his situation closely.
