It is safe to say that it has been a pretty crazy ride at the 2023 AFCON for Ivory Coast fans.
The Elephants are just one match away from booking what would be their first final appearance since 2015, when they won their second AFCON title via a penalty shootout against Ghana. The 2023 AFCON hosts' run to this juncture, however, has hardly been the smoothest one, and certainly has kept their supporters on edge throughout.
Jean-Louis Gasset's team started off well, as they secured a solid 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in their tournament opener. And although they lost 1-0 to Nigeria on matchday two, there were still high hopes that the Elephants would get back on track in what should have been a straightforward match against minnows Equatorial Guinea in their final group stage game. Yet, they suffered one of their most humiliating results at this tournament as their opponents thrashed them 4-0 to leave them on the verge of what would have been a shocking early exit.
The Ivory Coast were given a huge lifeline following Ghana throwing away a two goal lead against Mozambique to draw on matchday three, as a win for the Black Stars would have dumped the Elephants out of the competition. Having secured their spot in the round of 16 by the narrowest of margins, and having sacked Gasset in lieu of former Ivory Coast international Emerse Faé, the Elephants then were pitted against reigning AFCON holders Senegal.
After a grueling 120 minutes and an equally tense penalty shoot-out, the Ivory Coast were able to give their fans something to cheer about as they progressed to the quarter-finals. However, their celebrations were nearly cut short when they were reduced to ten men against Mali, and it all appeared to be over once their opponents secured a 1-0 goal late in the second half.
Lady Luck, however, had other ideas late in the second half. First was Simon Adingra's 90th minute effort to draw level and send the home crowd into jubilations as the Ivory Coast were given a life-line. Then, literally in the last minutes of extra time, Oumar Diakite fired his team into the semi-finals to put them in touching distance of potentially winning this year's AFCON as hosts.
Standing in their way, however, is a DR Congo side determined to end their long wait for an AFCON title. The Leopards haven't won a title since 1974, and are into the semi-finals for the first time since 2015. Unlike the Ivory Coast, DR Congo did not have to go through extra time in the quarter-finals as they eased to a 3-1 win over Guinea, but their journey to this juncture has been far from easy.
Three draws during the group stage were enough to secure a spot in the round of 16, including a 1-1 result against continental heavyweights Morocco. Pitted against Egypt, no one gave the Leopards much of a chance despite the Pharaohs being without star man Mohamed Salah. DR Congo, however, proved their mettle as they successfully held their nerve in a very tough penalty shootout following 120 minutes of grueling football.
Now, they are just a match away from featuring in the final, but will now have to deal with a very hostile and largely pro-Ivory Coast crowd. This will be the first meeting at an AFCON competition since the 2017 edition during which both sides shared the spoils in a two-all draw during the group stages.
Team news: Ivory Coast vs DR Congo
*All info as of February 6th
Ivory Coast: Odilon Kossounou, Serge Aurier, and Oumar Diakite are all suspended for this match.
DR Congo: Meanwhile, Gael Kakuta is a doubt for this game after missing out on both the round of 16 and quarter-finals.
Match facts: Ivory Coast vs DR Congo
- This will be the sixth meeting between the Ivory Coast and DR Congo at the AFCON
- The Leopards have won just one of their last six games against the Elephants
Broadcast info: Ivory Coast vs DR Congo
Here are your TV listings and live-streaming options to watch the Ivory Coast vs DR Congo live in the 2023 AFCON semi-finals from wherever you are currently based:
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
