By Razeen Gutta
Sebastien Haller’s 65th-minute goal against DR Congo has fired Ivory Coast into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) where they will meet Nigeria.
Sebastien Haller’s 65th-minute goal against DR Congo at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Wednesday fired the hosts into the final where they will meet Nigeria who sneaked past Bafana Bafana earlier on in the evening.
Their one-goal victory sets the Elephants on a course to claim a third Afcon trophy and their first since 2015 but Nigeria would be a huge concern for them.
Sunday’s final will be a replay of the two teams’s Group A showdown in which Nigeria’s Super Eagles prevailed 1-0.
Win or lose in the final, Ivory Coast’s caretaker coach Emerse Fae has already raised his hand to be considered for a permanent job.
They are the first Afcon hosts since Egypt in 2006 to reach the final.
Ivory Coast were without the services of suspended captain Serge Aurier while DR Congo had the experienced Gael Kakuta returning after missing their quarter-final showdown with Guinea.
The biggest goal-scoring chance of the contest came after 28 minutes when Yoane Wissa broke loose to face the hosts’ goalkeeper Yahia Fofana but was denied by the France-born keeper.
On 39 minutes, Haller then misdirected his header with only DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to beat.
Sustained pressure by the home side saw Franck Kessie denied by the woodwork four minutes before the halftime break.
Kessie returned 12 minutes after the restart and had his stinging shot drawing a fine save out of Mpasi.
The game’s biggest moment came when Haller vollied Max Gradel’s delivery into the net from the right to decide the contest.
Four minutes later, Haller tried to beat a badly-positioned Mpasi with a cheeky lob but his effort went wide.
DR Congo almost levelled matters but Mechack Elia was unlucky to watch his volley go just wide with 13 minutes remaining.
Pictured above: Ivory Coast forward Sebastien Haller celebrates with his teammates the goal that sent Afcon hosts into the final.
Image source: CAF
