It Party time in Ivory Coast as they enter Africa Cup of Nations Final

Fans in the Ivory Coast capital, Abidjan, were jubilant as their team reached their third African Cup of Nations final in six tournaments.


Big-name players Yaya Toure and Gervinho delivered standout performances at Bata Stadium in the first semi-final, scoring a goal each to put the Ivorians within touching distance of the trophy.

Ivory Coast lost its last two finals in penalty shootouts.

The Elephants will play either Ghana or hosts Equatorial Guinea in Sunday's decider.

They meet in the second semi on Thursday.

Ivory Coast's run of unexpected disappointments meant it hasn't won the African title since its one and only success in 1992.

That left former talisman and striker Didier Drogba to retire from internationals last year without ever lifting Africa's top soccer prize.

On Wednesday, Ivory Coast looked every bit the favourites in a convincing display against DR Congo, with Toure, Drogba's successor as captain, leading from the front.

The only minor blips for the Ivorians were when Congo won a penalty and converted it to draw level at 1-1.

And also when defender Serge Aurier came out for the second half wearing the wrong shirt - one that belonged to a team-mate and not his own number 17.

Aurier had to race back to the dressing room to change, leaving his team temporarily down to 10 men.

Toure had hammered a thunderous half-volley into the net in the 20th minute for Ivory Coast's early lead as he latched onto a bouncing ball at the top of the area.

Congo won its penalty three minutes later when Eric Bailly handballed.

Dieumerci Mbokani converted for 1-1, putting his spot-kick in the bottom right corner and just beyond the dive of goalie Sylvain Gbohouo.

Gervinho was a constant menace for the Congo defence as he continually swapped between the left and right wings.

He had a header cleared off the goal-line via the crossbar in the 40th minute, but fellow forward Wilfried Bony found him unmarked on the left side of the box a minute later and Gervinho swept a sweet first-time shot into the far right corner for 2-1.

Congo chased in the second, with Yannick Bolasie going on a weaving run into the area and having a low shot blocked by Gbohouo.

Ivory Coast didn't just try to protect its lead, though, driving forward again and again to create more chances both before and after defender Wilfried Kanon killed off Congo's hopes of a comeback with the third.

He scored with just over 20 minutes to go, pouncing on a rebound after Robert Kidiaba saved Aurier's header.

Kanon ran all the way to the dugout, punching his chest, to celebrate with coach Renard and the players on the bench.