Verdict: Ivory Coast win
Best odds: 28/25
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Ivory Coast will face DR Congo on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Wednesday within the second semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This match marks the Elephants’ return to Ebimpe since their disappointing 4-0 defeat towards Equatorial Guinea throughout the group stage. Ivory Coast now has the chance to redeem themselves and please their supporters in Abidjan.
On the opposite hand, Congo will likely be keen to succeed in the competitors’s remaining for the primary time since 1974 and can present a tricky problem for the nation internet hosting the event.
Ivory Coast
No workforce has embodied the drama of the Cup of Nations greater than the host nation, Ivory Coast, who’ve persevered regardless of dealing with challenges with accidents and a disappointing group stage efficiency.
The Elephants confronted the prospect of elimination after a heavy defeat of their remaining group-stage match towards Equatorial Guinea. However, below the management of Emerse Fae, who took over from Jean-Louis Gasset earlier than their destiny was sealed, religion has been restored within the workforce.
Since Fae’s appointment, Ivory Coast have eradicated defending champions Senegal and staged a outstanding comeback with 10 males to attain within the remaining minutes of normal and additional time, securing an exciting victory over Mali that ignited celebrations in Bouake.
Although there are issues in regards to the workforce’s fatigue, having performed further minutes within the knockout phases, Ivory Coast intention to attract inspiration from the house crowd as they search to succeed in their first remaining since successful the event in 2015.
Despite an inclination to start out slowly and concede early targets in latest matches, Ivory Coast stay resilient and decided. They strategy the semi-final conflict towards Congo with confidence, realizing they’ve the flexibility to mount comebacks and overcome challenges if want be.
Team News
Ivory Coast will likely be with out Serge Aurier on account of a yellow-card suspension. Also, Odilon Kossounou, who was despatched off within the earlier match towards Mali for receiving two yellow playing cards, and Oumar Diakite, who obtained a second reserving after scoring the quarter-final decider, are unavailable.
Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra, who scored the 90-minute equalizer within the quarter-finals, haven’t began a sport but, however coach Fae could think about beginning them each in Wednesday’s match.
If Ibrahim Sangare is match to play, he might change Kessie within the lineup.
DR Congo
Securing their first regular-time victory over Guinea was vital for Sebastien Desabre’s males, because it allowed them to keep away from taking part in an extra half-hour of their 3-1 triumph.
Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa, and Arthur Masuaku’s targets towards Syli National propelled the Leopards to the semi-finals for the primary time since 2015 and solely the second time for the reason that flip of the millennium.
Although Congo have a historical past within the competitors, having claimed the title in 1974, they’ve struggled in more moderen semi-finals, having been defeated in 1998 and 2015. However, they managed to safe third place in each editions, mitigating the frustration of not reaching the ultimate up to some extent.
As they put together to face the event hosts, having already performed on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium towards Guinea might work to their benefit. However, taking part in in entrance of a partisan and hostile crowd will current a distinct problem for Desabre’s facet.
The final assembly between these groups at AFCON was within the 2017 version, the place they performed out a 2-2 draw within the group stage. This prolonged DRC’s winless streak towards Ivory Coast on the Cup of Nations to 2 video games, as that they had beforehand defeated the West African nation of their preliminary assembly in 2002.
Team News
Desabre’s workforce confronted the absence of former Chelsea participant Gael Kakuta within the spherical of 16 and quarter-final matches, and the attacking midfielder stays uncertain for his or her upcoming fixture.
Congo are additionally coping with the potential of 4 gamers being suspended for a possible remaining. Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku, Dylan Batubinsika, and Theo Bongonda all obtained bookings within the earlier knockout rounds.
Unless Kakuta recovers from his harm, the Leopards would possibly go for an unchanged lineup for the semi-final.
Conclusion
Despite the arrogance impressed by reaching this stage of the competitors, Congo are more likely to discover the problem of going towards the host nation too nice.
Verdict: Ivory Coast win
Best odds: 28/25
Bookmaker: ZetBet
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