Hosts Host Ivory Coast will meet Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final following a 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic Congo on Wednesday evening.
Sebastien Haller was given a start along for the Elephants with Max Gradel and Franck Kessie, while Cedric Bakambu, Arthur Masuaku and Yoane Wissa completed the Leopards' eleven.
It was a decent start for the Leopards who looked to have gone ahead on five minutes with a rasping finish in the area by Wissa but it was halted for a foul in the build-up.
Ivory Coast should've gone in front over 20 minutes played through a header at the back-post from Simon Adingra, but he dragged his effort across the face of goal.
Haller got a golden chance after the water-break with a free header after getting on the end of a cross in the box, but he went well wide of the mark.
The Elephants kept pushing and witnessed Kessie apply a sharp turn outside the area to fire the base of the post with Lionel Mpasi scrambling for cover.
A little into the second half, the former FC Barcelona man was in again and this time draw a smart stop from Kessie through a similar strike.
The Elephants upped the ante off the bench in the 60th minute which saw Lazare Amani come on for Jean Michael Seri and Seko Fofana withdrawn for Ibrahim Sangare.
It worked out albeit indirectly as a ball into the area allowed Haller to work a yard of space and apply a clever acrobatic finish which gave Mpasi no chance.
Congo eagerly looked to go level, but really struggled to any openings as the Elephants contained the lead to book a spot in the final with Nigeria, while Congo will meet South Africa in the third/fourth play-off.
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