2015 AFCON Semi-Final Preview: Ivory Coast vs DR Congo – A Battle for the Final
The semi-finals of the 30th Africa Cup of Nations kick off this Wednesday with a high-stakes clash between Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s a showdown that marks the third meeting between the two nations in just six months, following their dramatic encounters in the qualifiers.
In that qualifying campaign, the Ivorians edged a 2-1 win in Kinshasa, only to suffer a surprising 4-3 defeat at home in Abidjan. This time, however, the prize is far greater — a spot in the CAN 2015 final.
Both sides have had inconsistent group stages, with Côte d’Ivoire drawing their first two matches and DR Congo scraping through as the best third-placed team after three draws. But in the quarter-finals, both teams burst into life:
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Ivory Coast convincingly beat Algeria 3-1
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DR Congo stunned Congo 4-2 in a dramatic comeback
Now, Florent Ibenge’s Leopards and Hervé Renard’s Elephants must deliver again. Both coaches will count on their stars — Dieumerci Mbokani, Yaya Touré, Gervinho, and others — to make the difference.
The scene is set in Bata, and with CAN history on the line, this promises to be a thrilling duel between two ambitious sides.
Kickoff at 7 p.m. GMT. Follow it live on Africa Top Sports.
