It’s Ivory Coast vs Nigeria in Sunday’s Afcon final

Ivory Coast fans were in jubilant mood as they gathered in an Abidjan fan zone to celebrate their team’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.

The Elephants secured a 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo, thanks to a goal from Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller in the 65th minute.

This victory marks a remarkable recovery for the Ivorians, who were on the verge of elimination in the group phase.

The hosts’ fortunes turned around after a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea and the subsequent sacking of their veteran French head coach Jean Louis Gasset.

However, all is now forgotten as Ivory Coast reaches the final, becoming the first hosts to do so in the last nine tournaments since Egypt in 2006.

The decisive moment of the game came when Haller, making his first start after recovering from an ankle injury, saw his misdirected shot bounce off the turf and into the net, eluding the Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

This stroke of luck sealed Ivory Coast’s place in the final, where they will face Nigeria on Sunday.

Ivory Coast fans are hopeful that their team’s turnaround will continue and that interim head coach Emerse Fae’s reinvigorated side can secure their third continental title.

The team previously won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992 and 2015.

Nigeria, on the other hand, progressed to the final after defeating Ivory Coast 1-0 in the group stage.

They secured their place in the final by defeating South Africa on penalties in the other semi-final match.

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