Ivory Coast booked their place in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final battle with Nigeria after Sebastian Haller’s semifinal second-half strike on Wednesday saw them win 1-0 against DR Congo.
The hosts, who lost two of their group stages and sacked their managed mid-tournament, grew into the encounter and were unfavourable not to be ahead at the break after Haller fired wide with a header and Frank Kessie struck the post.
However, the key breakthrough arrived after the break when Haller volleyed Max Gradel’s cross into the ground, the ball looping up and over a helpless Lionel Mpasi
Ivory Coast, who last won the tournament in 2015, will take on Nigeria in Sunday’s final after the Super Eagles won in a 4-2 penalty shootout against South Africa earlier on Wednesday.
The hosts, who were a whisker away from being eliminated in the group stage, are now one step from being crowned Kings of the continent for a third time after producing one of their most assured displays of the tournament.
DR Congo were appearing in their first semi-final since 2015 and thought they had made the perfect start when Cedric Bakambu nodded in from close range, but the goal was chalked off for a foul on goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
Ivory Coast grew as the half wore on and were unlucky not to go in ahead at the interval following a flurry of late chances. First, Haller flashed a free header wide before Franck Kessie struck the post with a low shot from the right edge of the area.
The second period was a tight affair but the hosts broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Borussia Dortmund forward Haller saw his volley crash into the turf before looping over Lionel Mpasi into the net.
DR Congo pushed for a late equalizer but could not manufacture an opening as their bid for a first title since 1974 came to an end.
Ivory Coast will now meet Nigeria in Sunday’s final in Abidjan.
