Sebastien Haller emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal as hosts Ivory Coast secured a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo, booking their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Wednesday.
Making his first start of the tournament after recovering from injury, Borussia Dortmund striker Haller found the net in the 65th minute at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium. His connection with a Max-Alain Gradel cross resulted in a looping shot over the goalkeeper, sealing the win for the Ivorians.
The triumph sets up a final showdown against Nigeria at the same venue on Sunday, as Ivory Coast becomes the first host country since Egypt in 2006 to reach the Cup of Nations final.
The journey to the final has been nothing short of remarkable for the two-time champions, who faced elimination in the group stage. Interim coach Emerse Fae, replacing the sacked Jean-Louis Gasset, described their progression as “miraculous.”
In contrast, it was a heartbreaking defeat for DR Congo, who harbored hopes of reaching their first AFCON final since their victory as Zaire in 1974.
Ivory Coast’s resurgence saw them scrape through the group stage as the last of the best third-placed teams, before eliminating reigning champions Senegal in a penalty shootout. They followed this with a victory over Mali in the quarter-finals, despite playing with 10 men for most of the match.
Notable inclusions in the team included Brighton winger Simon Adingra and the talismanic forward Haller, who proved pivotal in securing the win.
DR Congo, seeking revenge for their 2015 semi-final defeat against Ivory Coast, displayed resilience throughout the match. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the determined Ivorians.
The match was not without controversy, as the Congo team used the national anthem to protest ongoing violence in their country.
Despite a spirited performance from DR Congo, Ivory Coast’s dominance prevailed, with Haller’s goal sparking scenes of jubilation and securing their place in the final.
