Ivory Coast vs DR Congo 1-0: CAF AFCON 2023 semifinal – as it happened
Follow our live build-up, team news and commentary as Ivory Coast face DR Congo in the second AFCON 2023 semifinal.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Ivory Coast beat DR Congo 1-0 at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 on Wednesday, February 7:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Ivory Coast beat DR Congo 1-0 at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 on Wednesday, February 7:
- Hosts Ivory Coast beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0 in the second semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
- Sebastion Haller scored the only goal at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- The Elephants now face Nigeria in Sunday’s final.
- The Super Eagles beat South Africa on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
- Ivory Coast continue their remarkable revival after near elimination in the group stage.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Goodbye from the semifinals
That’s it from a dramatic day of semifinal action across two continental competitions.
Qatar reached the final of the Asian Cup by defeating Iran and face Jordan, who overcame South Korea on Tuesday
Nigeria thought they had their match wrapped up in stoppage time, but South Africa and VAR had other ideas.
The Super Eagles progressed on penalties and face Ivory Coast – the winner of the game on this live page.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride at both tournaments, and it’s sure to be the same again in the two finals.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage throughout the day – please do join us for the finals if you can.
There’s live cricket on Thursday morning as Pakistan and Australia battle it out for a place in the ICC Under-19 World Cup final against India.
For now though, from me, Kevin Hand, and all the team, it’s goodbye.
𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 = 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘. ✅#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/2IG7gcA4FA
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 7, 2024
How the road to the final was mapped out
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗘. 😮💨
🇳🇬 Nigeria 🆚 Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮
We’re finally at the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 final stop! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dk3AtUoXh2
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 7, 2024
Kessie is player of the match
The Ivory Coast midfield dominated the match and kept DR Congo at bay all match as they struggled to even create chances. No surprise then that it was an Elephants’ midfielder to take the player of the match award…
🇨🇮 Franck Kessie 🇨🇮
Such a special performance makes him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match! 👏#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #CIVRDC | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/gWKQfVIA6v
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 7, 2024
Who are these Ivory Coast players?
From a group stage that saw them lose two games and their coach, Ivory Coast are now into the final and it promises to be a finale befitting of a fantastic AFCON.
Defeated 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in the final group-stage match was humiliating for the hosts.
They also lost to Nigeria – the team they will now face in the finals.
Since then, however, Ivory Coast shocked the defending champions, Senegal, in the round of 16 and are now on a run that seems to be the stuff of fairytales after what was a horror show at the start of the tournament.
A bridge too far for DR Congo
Their run to the semifinal was fantastic and promised even more, but on the day they struggled to keep pace with the hosts.
Ivory Coast reach the final
The host nation reach the final.
Full-time: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Bamba breaks though
The sub rounds the keeper but takes the ball wide so lobs a cross for a teammate but the defence head for a corner.
90+4 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Banza volleys from outside the box
It was ambitious, to say the least, as the ball dropped behind the striker and he hooked it over his shoulder on the turn. It was over the ball as well, though.
90+2 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Five minutes of stoppage time
Can DR Congo find a way through? They have to pump the ball and bodies forward now.
90+1 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Double change for the Elephants
Haller and Gradel come off for Krasso and Boga.
89 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
DR Congo can’t forge an opening
Ivory Coast are holding firm and DR Congo are struggling to lay a glove on the hosts.
87 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Haller with the flick
Amani receives the ball from Haller and surges towards the edge of the box but drags his shot wide.
84 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Ivory Coast change
Adingra, who has been so bright, comes off for Bamba.
80 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Lina volleys wide
The ball drops to the winger on the edge of the box, and he swings a volley at goal but it bounces wide.
The first sight of a goal in a while for DR Congo.
78 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Cooling break
DR Congo need to regroup. It’s been all Ivory Coast for some time in this match now.
One last team talk to change the direction of play.
The stadium announcer declares an attendance of 51,020.
74 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Haller lobs the keeper
A mix up at the back allows Haller through and he chips the keeper but the ball bounces wide.
71 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Triple change for DR Congo
Banza, Tshibola and Mayele come on for Wissa, Bakambu and Pickel.
69 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Nearly another for Haller
A corner from the left and Haller glances a header onto the roof of the net.
68 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
If you don’t shoot you don’t score
It wasn’t how Haller intended it, but the ball is in the net.
The bounce couldn’t have been crueller on the keeper as it looped over him and dropped under the bar at the far post.
Adringra with the cross again.
66 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
GOAL!
Haller volleys into the ground and the ball bounces over the keeper and into the net.
65 minutes: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo
Double change for Ivory Coast
Seri and Fofana come off for Sangare and Amani.
61 minutes: Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo
Dangerous ball from the right
Ivory Coast find room for the cross, and Adinga swings in a wicked ball.
Mbemba gets a flicked header to move the ball on its way but there wasn’t anyone there attacking the ball anyway.
59 minutes: Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo
DR Congo enjoy more possession
The game is struggling to settle in the second half but DR Congo have managed to string some passes together in defence and midfield.
Ivory Coast have had a 59-41 share of the ball to this stage.
55 minutes: Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo
The midfielders try to assert authority
Kessie wins the ball back for Ivory Coast and bursts forward, he can’t set up an attack though.
Both midfielders are tussling to gain the centre ground.
51 minutes: Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo
Bongonda nearly makes the breakthrough
The sub charges into the box beating a number of players with sheer pace but his shot is wide of the near post in the end.
48 minutes: Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo