Sebastien Haller scored the only goal of the game as Ivory Coast defeated DR Congo 1-0 in Wednesday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi final and set up a final meeting with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The Elephants needed extra time to dispatch Mali in the quarter-finals, doing so with nine men while the Leopards defeated Guinea for their first semi-final appearance since 2015.
The Congolese had the first big chance of the game as Brentford forward Yoane Wissa fired a shot that required Ivory Coast Yahia Fofana to be alert.
Wilfried Singo and Franck Kessie were close to finding the back of the net towards halftime but their efforts failed to go in.
The Ivorians finally got their break at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in the 65th minute when Max Gradel brilliantly set up Haller who planted the ball into the roof of the net with an audacious volley that gave Lionel Mpasi-Nzau no chance of stopping.
The Borussia Dortmund forward had two more opportunities to extend Ivory Coast’s lead but they narrowly missed the target.
It all started with Group A and it will end with Group A teams in #AFCON2023 final…
Final Match: Nigeria ???????? ???? Ivory Coast ???????? on Sunday, February 11.#Afrosport #Nigeria #SuperEagles #IvoryCoast #TotalEnergiesAFCON #AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/zyEpaMTNgc
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 7, 2024
Regardless, Haller’s solo strike was more than enough to send the Ivorians to their first final since 2015 when they defeated Ghana on penalties.
Sunday’s final will also be a repeat of the Group A meeting which Nigeria triumphed 1-0.
DR Congo meanwhile will contend with South Africa for the bronze medal.
Anticipating sunday alreadyyyyyyyy. AFCON to the world!