Ivory Coast down DR Congo to reach home AFCON 2023 final

ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire

Ivory Coast’s remarkable run in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations continued on Wednesday night when they defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan to reach the tournament final.

The Elephants (who were so close to elimination in the group stage that they sacked their coach) claimed the victory in this semifinal thanks to a goal midway through the second half from Sebastien Haller and will now look to become the first team to win the Afcon on home soil since Egypt in 2006.

DR Congo thought they had taken an early lead when Cedric Bakambu headed home from close range in the ninth minute, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana by Meschack Elia.

Ivory Coast’s first threat on goal arrived in the 18th minute as Simon Adingra rose highest at the far post to meet Wilfried Singo’s cross, but put his header narrowly wide of the mark.

And the Elephants’ Sebastien Haller had an even better chance on 40 minutes from another excellent Singo cross, but mist-timed his header and skewed the ball wide.

The hosts were then inches away from taking the lead in the 41st minute when Franck Kessie fired off a left-footed drive from just inside the penalty area, with the ball beating goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau’s right hand but thundering off the frame of the goal.

Goalless at the break, the Leopards made the first change at the start of the second half when they replaced Gael Kakuta with Theo Bongonda, and the substitute threatened a goal on 49 minutes with a fine solo effort that hit the side netting.

Ten minutes later Kessie had another powerful drive on goal at the other end, but this time Mpasi-Nzau made a sharp save to keep the score line blank.

On 65 minutes Ivory Coast broke the deadlock: Max Gradel’s cross from the right by-line found Haller, who struck an awkward-looking volley that bounced up off the turf and over the reach of the DRC goalkeeper to find the back of the net.

Haller had the chance to double the lead six minutes later, but his attempted lob with only Mpasi-Nzau to beat drifted wide, while DRC’s Elia almost scored a spectacular equaliser with a volley from the ‘D’ of the box which flashed just wide in the 78th minute.

That latter chance was as close to an equaliser as the Leopards would come, with the Elephants able to see out the final portion of the game and secure a deserved victory.

DR Congo will face South Africa in the third-place playoff at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Saturday 10 February, while Ivory Coast will face Nigeria in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Sunday 11 February.

Ivory Coast: Y. Fofana, Singo, Boly, Ndicka, Konan, Seri (Amani 61’), Kessie, Adingra (Bamba 80’), S. Fofana (Sangare 61’), Gradel (Boga 90’), Haller (Krasso 90’)

DR Congo: Mpasi-Nzau, Kalulu, Mbemba, Inonga, Masuaku, Moutoussamy, Pickel (Tshibola 70’), Elia, Kakuta (Bongonda 46’), Wissa (Mayele 70’), Bakambu (Banza 69’)