The hosts will look for revenge against their unbeaten rivals
in a rematch of the group game they lost 1-0.
Sebastien Haller scored the winner as 2023 Africa Cup of
Nations hosts Cote d’Ivoire beat DR Congo 1-0 to set up a final meeting with
Nigeria.
The only goal of a cagey contest in Abidjan came in the 65th
minute when Haller’s volley bounced down into the ground and up over Leopards
goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
The Borussia Dortmund striker should have opened the scoring
just before the break with an unmarked header, and Haller also missed a chance
to double the lead when he sent a lob narrowly wide.
DR Congo did not look like getting a late equalizer, although
Meschack Elia sent a volley wide of the left-hand upright and Simon Banza then
fired well over in injury time.
Cote d’Ivoire had sacked Jean-Louis Gasset as boss
before scraping through the group stage, and had needed late goals against both
Senegal and Mali to progress to the last four.
But interim boss Emerse Fae now has a chance to guide the
Elephants to a third continental title, adding to their triumphs in 1992 and
2015, when they face three-time winners Nigeria in Abidjan on Sunday.
The Super Eagles had reached the final earlier on Wednesday
after beating South Africa 4-2 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1
draw in Bouake.
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