In the second semifinal of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0 after a fierce battle, paving the way for an exciting final against Nigeria on Sunday.
Sebastien Haller scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute with a shot that deflected off the ground and went past Lionel Mpasi, the Congolese goalie.
Even though the home team had multiple opportunities to win the game, including a header that went wide and a lob that was missed, Haller’s goal was sufficient to secure the victory.
Simon Banza fired over the crossbar in injury time, while Meschack Elia missed a volley as DR Congo struggled to generate any real opportunities.
Ivory Coast’s win represents a sea change after a turbulent playoff run that saw them fire coach Jean-Louis Gasset and depend on late goals to defeat Senegal and Mali.
Emerse Fae, the Elephants’ interim manager, will now have the chance to guide the team to its third continental championship after wins in 1992 and 2015.
Nigeria will give Ivory Coast hard competition in the championship match after defeating South Africa 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the first semifinal.
The Super Eagles’ matchup with the Elephants seems to be a fantastic way to round off the tournament—the team has won the AFCON title three times.
Fan will be thrilled with an exciting encounter between two rivals on Sunday at 20:00 GMT in Abidjan, at the Alassane Ouatarra Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe.