Who: Ivory Coast vs DR Congo
What: CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 semifinal
When: Wednesday, February 6, 2024, 20:00 GMT
The place: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Hosts Ivory Coast are fancied to proceed their exceptional revival on the Africa Cup of Nations and trip a frenzied wave of house assist as they search a spot within the ultimate with victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 2 meet in Abidjan on Wednesday simply hours after Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake within the first semifinal. The winners advance to Sunday’s ultimate in Abidjan.
The Ivorians have put apart their stuttering begin to the event, together with a humiliating 4-0 loss within the group stage to tiny Equatorial Guinea, to achieve the ultimate 4, roared on by capability house crowds.
They return to Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium, which is the place they delivered timid performances within the group stage however now look a revitalised aspect after their come-from-behind knockout spherical success over holders Senegal and neighbours Mali.
“We had been on the backside of a gap after shedding to Equatorial Guinea. We needed to await the [rest of the] group matches to [finish to] discover out whether or not we certified, which occurred,” stated influential Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana.
🇿🇦 🇳🇬 🇨🇮 🇨🇩
Women and gents, meet your #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 semi-finalists! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/eO24dUOJHG
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 4, 2024
“In spite of everything that we endured, we’re now not afraid of something.
“After the Equatorial Guinea match, we had been insulted and we felt alone. However we managed to get by means of. Champions all the time handle to advance.”
The Ivorians tackle a Congolese outfit who drew 4 successive matches earlier than their 3-1 quarterfinal win over Guinea.
They’d set advancing from their group, which they did regardless of three attracts, as their major ambition for the event so something they obtain now could be a bonus.
“Now we’re within the semifinals, it could be silly to not consider we are able to go on and get into the ultimate,” stated coach Sebastien Desabre.
𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝙈𝙄-𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇𝙎! 🔥
4 groups. One intention. ✨#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/YGNyqzUsDc
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 3, 2024
The Congolese received the second of their two Cup of Nations triumphs 50 years in the past when the nation was generally known as Zaire.
Nigeria have received all three earlier conferences with South Africa at previous Cup of Nations finals, the final within the 2019 quarterfinal in Cairo.
Each side have stored clear sheets by means of their final 4 outings on the event and overwhelmed off troublesome opponents to achieve the semis.
Nigeria edged the Ivorians within the group stage and Cameroon within the final 16 whereas South Africa eradicated pre-tournament favourites Morocco.
“I feel Nigeria is a group that has turn into higher and higher,” stated South Africa coach Hugo Broos.
Kind
Ivory Coast are constructing their manner into this event after a group-stage efficiency that left the hosts on the verge of elimination. The win in opposition to the defending champions, Senegal, put the Elephants again on track and overcoming Mali within the quarterfinals was no imply feat both.
DRC knocked out the file winners, Egypt, within the spherical of 16 – that alone is sweet sufficient for any kind ebook and made them heavy favourites to beat Guinea within the quarterfinals.
Ivory Coast: W L L W W
DR Congo: D D D W W
Head-to-head:
This would be the fifteenth assembly of the edges and is a repeat of the 2015 AFCON ultimate.
The Elephants received that encounter 3-1 with objectives from Gervinho, Wilfried Kanon and Yaya Toure.
General Ivory Coast have received six of the conferences to DRC’s 4 with 5 attracts.
Ivory Coast group information
Ivory Coast pair Oumar Diakite and Odilon Kossounou are suspended for the match after they had been each despatched off in opposition to Mali.
Diakite’s second yellow was acquired for eradicating his shirt in celebrating the successful aim.
Willy Boly is the favorite to come back in for Kossounou in defence. Striker Sebastien Haller has overcome an ankle harm and will make his first begin.
Predicted XI: Yayhia Fofana, N’Clomande Konan, Jean Seri, Seko Fofana, Willy Boly, Franck Kessie, Max Gradel, Serge Aurier, Nicolas Pepe, Kouakou Kouampe, Obite Ndicka
DR Congo group information
There aren’t any new considerations for DRC going into the match after Yoane Wissa shrugged off a slight drawback from the final match.
Predicted XI: Lionel Nzau, Henock Baka, Samuel Moutoussamy, Theo Bongonda, Meschack Lina, Cedric Bakambu, Charles Monginda, Yoane Wissa, Chancel Mbemba, Gedeon Kyatengwa, Fuka Kawela
