- Sebastien Haller scored the only goal of the game in the second half to send the hosts through to their fourth final in the tournament's history.
Ivory Coast secured their place in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after a narrow 1-0 win over DR Congo at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
Sebastien Haller scored the game's only goal in the second half to send the hosts through to their fourth final in the tournament's history.
However, the Elephants' path to the final has been anything but smooth. They started the competition with a shock 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their opening group match, followed by a 2-1 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their second game.
They were on the verge of elimination, with only a slim chance of qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
Their fortunes changed when Morocco beat Zambia 2-1 in the other group match, allowing Ivory Coast to sneak into the last 16 by scoring more goals than Guinea-Bissau, who also finished with three points.
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However, their problems were far from over, as they had to face the defending champions Senegal in the knockout stage.
The match ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes, and Ivory Coast prevailed 4-3 on penalties, with goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo saving two spot-kicks.
The quarter-final against Mali was another dramatic affair, as Ivory Coast came from behind to win 2-1 in extra time despite playing with ten men for most of the match after Serge Aurier was sent off.
The semi-final against DR Congo was a tense and tight contest, with few clear chances for either side. Haller's volley in the 65th minute proved to be the decisive moment, as Ivory Coast secured a hard-fought victory and a place in the final.
On the flip side, Nigeria has reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after a thrilling penalty shootout victory over South Africa in the semi-final on Wednesday. The Super Eagles came back from a goal down to force extra time and then held their nerve to win 4-2 on spot-kicks, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saving two penalties.
Nigeria’s road to the final has been impressive, as they topped their group with three wins out of three, scoring seven goals and conceding none. They beat Egypt 1-0 in their opening match, thanks to a late goal from Victor Osimhen.
They then thrashed Equatorial Guinea 4-0, with a brace from Samuel Chukwueze and goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi. They completed their group stage with a 2-0 win over Zambia, with goals from Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Nigeria faced some tough opponents in the knockout stage, but they showed their quality and resilience. They beat Cameroon 2-1 in the last 16, with goals from Osimhen and Iheanacho.
They then defeated Ghana 1-0 in the quarter-final, with a goal from Ndidi. And finally, they overcame South Africa in the semi-final, with a penalty from William Troost-Ekong and a shootout heroics from Nwabali.
Ivory Coast will face Nigeria on Sunday in Abidjan in the final, repeating their group-stage encounter. They hope to avenge their defeat and win their third Afcon title after triumphs in 1992 and 2015. Nigeria will aim for its fourth title after its last success in 2013.
