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International Drama For Magpies Trio
Written by Newcastle Utd
Cheick Tiote, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were all involved in a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday night
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Cheick Tiote's Ivory Coast look certain to be heading for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations - but the midfielder will have to wait for confirmation after their qualifier in Senegal was abandoned late on.
The second leg tie, in Dakar on Saturday night, was halted when riot police fired teargas inside the packed Stade Leopold Senghor as thousands of fans lit fires and threw objects in protest at home team Senegal's display.
The Lions of Teranga - including Newcastle pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse - were trailing 2-0 on the night following a Didier Drogba double, which meant they were 6-2 down on aggregate.
Cisse captained Senegal, playing alongside his club strike partner Ba, but they were unable to overturn the first-leg deficit against an Elephants side who had Tiote at its heart.
It is likely the result will stand but there was no immediate confirmation from the Confederation of African Football organisers.
Victory would send the Ivorians through to the finals in South Africa in January and eliminate Senegal.
Elsewhere, Newcastle youngster Alex Nicholson starred for Wales Under 19s as they triumphed 2-1 over Slovenia in Bakovci.
It was a first win at the second attempt for the Welsh in Group 10 of their European Championship qualifying campaign, having lost their opener against Sweden. Nicholson played the full 90 minutes at right-back.
Lubomir Satka suffered a heavy defeat as his Slovakia Under 19 side went down 4-0 to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Satka wore the number two shirt and was booked in the 69th minute.
Young midfielder Brandon Miele appeared again for Republic of Ireland Under 19s in their 1-0 victory over Macedonia.
Miele was a 64th-minute substitute, replacing Kealan Dillon, and the only goal of the game came nine minutes from time courtesy of Michael Drennan.