Hosts Ivory Coast will have a day with Destiny on Sunday (Feb 11) after punching their ticket to the final of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Ivory Coast, two-time champions, saw off the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in the semifinal to reach their fifth AFCON final. Former West Ham United and Ajax striker Sebastien Haller was the match-winner having struck the only goal of the match in the the 65th minute at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium. The Elephants will now face Nigeria in the final on Sunday, who earlier beat 1996 champions South Africa in a penalty shootout.
Ivory Coast vs DR Congo Analysis
Having got the better of defending champions Senegal and Mali in the knockout stage, confidence was high in the Ivory Coast camp despite being without a permanent coach. Both teams canceled out each other in a contrasting first half as the chances were few and far between. Both goalkeepers were largely bailed out through their defence with little opportunity to score.
However, the deadlock was broken in the 65th minute when Max-Alain Gradel’s cross was put home by striker Haller. The resulting goal saw the hosts with their noses in front after which they defended with lion’s heart to take home the vital win and place in Sunday’s showdown.
It was an agonising defeat for DR Congo, who had been dreaming of a first appearance in an AFCON final since they were champions as Zaire in 1974.
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Interestingly Sunday’s contest will be the second meeting between the sides, having earlier met in the group stage where William Troost-Ekong scored the winning goal in the 55th minute of a narrow 1-0 win. The defeat also had seen Ivory Coast condemned to third place and only qualified for the knockouts as one of the best third-placed sides.
This is the fifth time Ivory Coast have reached the final of the AFCON, having won the tournament in 1992 and 2015. They were the runners-up in 2006 and 2012 and will look to pocket a third title on Sunday. It will be the 11th time a host nation would win the AFCON if Ivory Coast beat Nigeria in the final. Not since 2006 has a host nation won the AFCON and Ivory Coast will look to end that 18-year drought. Interestingly, Nigeria remain one of only three teams to have lost the AFCON final as hosts and could add Ivory Coast to that list if they get the better of them on Sunday.