The African Cup of Nations has reached a thrilling stage as Ivory Coast and Nigeria prepare for intense semi-final clashes, with both teams eyeing a spot in the final match.
Host nation Ivory Coast, buoyed by a dramatic comeback, is set to face the formidable Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, while Nigeria, aiming for their fourth title, will take on South Africa on the same day.
The winners of these semi-final encounters will compete in the tournament final on Sunday at the Hassan Wattara Stadium in Anyama, north of the capital Abidjan.
Meanwhile, the losing teams will battle it out for the third-place position on Saturday at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in central Abidjan.
These matchups epitomize the linguistic divide in Africa, with one Francophone clash between Ivory Coast and DR Congo and an Anglophone battle between Nigeria and South Africa.
Ivory Coast’s journey to the semi-finals has been nothing short of remarkable.
After securing the last quarter-final spot with a tense victory over Senegal, they stunned the continent by defeating Mali 2-1 in extra time, despite playing with ten men for 75 minutes.
Interim coach Emirz Vaie (40), who took over after the sacking of Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset, has earned praise for his tactical changes, with substitutes making vital contributions in crucial moments.
Vaie commended his players after the victory against Mali, stating, “Our players did not give up.
This fighting spirit has propelled us to chase the championship.”
However, Ivory Coast faces a challenging situation as they head into the semi-final without defender Odilon Kossonou and forward Omar Diakite, who were both sent off in the match against Mali, along with captain Serge Aurier and forward Christian Kouame, who are suspended due to accumulating two yellow cards.
Nevertheless, Ivory Coast is bracing themselves for a tough encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo, who secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Guinea in the quarter-finals, marking their first win after four consecutive draws in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s solid defensive performance will be tested against South Africa, led by Percy Tau, the African Footballer of the Year 2023.
Nigeria has maintained a clean sheet for four consecutive matches, showcasing a balanced approach combining offensive prowess with defensive solidity.
However, Nigeria faces a potential setback with the absence of their star striker, Victor Osimhen, who is struggling with an abdominal injury.
The Nigerian Football Federation spokesperson confirmed Osimhen’s condition and stated that he did not travel with the team to the match venue.
Nigeria’s coach, Jose Bizarro, is banking on the resurgence of Ademola Lookman, who has been instrumental in Nigeria’s recent victories, scoring crucial goals against Cameroon and Angola.
In the other semi-final clash, South Africa, guided by Belgian coach Hugo Broos, will rely on the experience and form of their key players, including Marseille defender Sancel Mbemba and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.
The semi-final encounters promise to be thrilling battles as Ivory Coast and Nigeria aim to secure their spots in the final showdown of the African Cup of Nations.
