AFCON: Ivory Coast to face Nigeria at finals on Sunday 

Nigeria will face Cote D’Ivoire in the finals on Sunday to decide who will carry the African Cup of Nations(AFCON) cup 

On Wednesday Sebastien Haller was the hero of hosts Côte D’Ivoire as he scored the only goal in the match that beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to win through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Starting for the first time at the tournament following injury, Borussia Dortmund striker Haller connected with a Max-Alain Gradel cross in the 65th minute at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, his shot looping over the goalkeeper and in. 

The goal secured them a place at thehe finals, and the Ivorians will now face Nigeria at the same venue on Sunday to decide who takes the title.

The two-time champions are the first host country to reach the final of the Cup of Nations since Egypt in 2006, and the turnaround is remarkable for a team that was on the brink of elimination in the group stage

In contrast, it was an agonizing defeat for DR Congo, who had been dreaming of a first appearance in an AFCON final since they were champions as Zaire in 1974.

Cote D’Ivoire’s run at the tournament had been described on the eve of this game as “miraculous” by their interim coach Emerse Fae, the man who replaced the sacked Jean-Louis Gasset following embarrassing results in the group stage.

Humiliated and on the verge of elimination after a 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea on January 22, this was their first match at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on Abidjan’s dusty outskirts since then.