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Halle strikes as Ivory Coast reach Cup of Nations final

Halle strikes as Ivory Coast reach Cup of Nations final

SEBASTIEN Haller sent hosts Ivory Coast into the Africa Cup of Nations final as they beat Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in Wednesday's semi-final at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium. Haller's 65th-minute goal continued a remarkable recovery by the Ivorians who were almost eliminated in the group phase but will now take on Nigeria in Sunday's final. Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties in Wednesday's other semi-final in Bouake. Striker Haller missed two other good chances and Franck Kessie struck the woodwork in a deserved win for Ivory Coast.
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Nigeria edge South Africa on penalties to reach Cup of Nations final

Nigeria edge South Africa on penalties to reach Cup of Nations final

NIGERIA goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties in the shootout to guide his side to a 4-2 victory over South Africa following a 1-1 draw and earn a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final. Nigeria had lost five of their previous six semi-finals at the continental finals but survived some nervous moments to book a place in Sunday's decider against hosts Ivory Coast. William Troost-Ekong put Nigeria into the lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half, before South Africa earned a spot-kick of their own in the final minute of the 90 and it was…
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Ivory Coast fancied to continue Cup of Nations revival

Ivory Coast fancied to continue Cup of Nations revival

HOSTS Ivory Coast are fancied to continue their remarkable revival at the Africa Cup of Nations and ride a frenzied wave of home support as they seek a place in the final with victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two meet in Abidjan on Wednesday just hours after Nigeria face South Africa in Bouake in the first semi-final. The winners advance to Sunday’s final in Abidjan. The Ivorians have put aside their stuttering start to the tournament, including a humiliating 4-0 loss in the group stage to tiny Equatorial Guinea, to reach the final four, roared on by…
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South Africa coach Broos brings a touch of good fortune to team’s cause

South Africa coach Broos brings a touch of good fortune to team’s cause

VETERAN coach Hugo Broos might not have had a convincing run in charge of South Africa before the Africa Cup of Nations finals but when it comes to the tournament the 71-year-old Belgian is proving to have the Midas touch. Former Belgium international Broos won the continental title with Cameroon in 2017, taking a side given little chance before the start all the way to the winners’ podium and seven years later has led equally unfancied South Africa to the last four. They will be considerable underdogs when they face Nigeria in Bouake on Wednesday but Broos’ team confounded the…
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Success possible for DR Congo 50 years after last Cup of Nations triumph

Success possible for DR Congo 50 years after last Cup of Nations triumph

THE Democratic Republic of Congo suddenly has a chance of unexpected Africa Cup of Nations success as they prepare to take on hosts Ivory Coast in Wednesday’s semi-final in Abidjan 50 years after their last triumph. The Congolese might be perennial participants, this being their 19th Cup of Nations tournament, but they have long since not been considered a major force in the African game, losing the prominent position they once held after decades of political instability, and economic and infrastructure decline. As the former Zaire, they won the Cup of Nations in 1974 and the same year went to…
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South Africa goalkeeper the hero as they reach Cup of Nations semi-finals

South Africa goalkeeper the hero as they reach Cup of Nations semi-finals

SOUTH Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in the post-match shootout against the Cape Verde Islands to carry his country into the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw in their quarter-final. Mothobi Mvala scored the decisive kick to make it 2-1 on penalties and win South Africa a semi-final place for the first time since 2000 but they were fortunate to get past the smallest nation in the tournament at Charles Konan Banny Stadium. South Africa now takes on Nigeria in Bouake in their semi-final on Wednesday. It was a game full of…
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Ivory Coast score last-gasp goal in extra time to reach semi-finals

Ivory Coast score last-gasp goal in extra time to reach semi-finals

HOSTS Ivory Coast kept up their incredible escape act at the Africa Cup of Nations as they came from behind to beat Mali 2-1 in Saturday’s quarter-final, scoring a last-gasp goal in extra time to book a semi-final with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Oumar Diakite got a touch to Seko Fofana’s strike to win the game for the Ivorians, who played with 10 men for most of the match after Odilon Kossounou was sent off shortly before halftime. Mali had taken a 71st-minute lead through Nene Dorgeles but the home team, roared on by the crowd at the Stade…
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DR Congo book Cup of Nations semi-final berth with 3-1 win over Guinea

DR Congo book Cup of Nations semi-final berth with 3-1 win over Guinea

THE Democratic Republic of Congo came from a goal behind to beat Guinea 3-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium and join Nigeria in the last four. Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa and Arthur Masuaku scored the goals as the Congolese recovered from conceding an early penalty to secure victory and a semi-final berth for the first time since 2015. Mbemba had given away a penalty when he shoved Mohamed Bayo in the box to allow the Guinea striker to score after 20 minutes but the Congolese captain made up for his error seven…
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Nigeria beat Angola to advance to Cup of Nations semi-final

Nigeria beat Angola to advance to Cup of Nations semi-final

NIGERIA were the first side to book a semi-final berth at the Africa Cup of Nations after Ademola Lookman's first-half goal ensured a 1-0 win over Angola in the last eight on Friday. Lookman finished off a flying run down the left by winger Moses Simon, who skipped the challenge of defender Kialonda Gaspar to break free and then teed up his team mate for his third goal of the tournament. The 26-year-old's 41st-minute strike at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium was enough to set up a semi-final meeting on Wednesday against either the Cape Verde Islands or South Africa, who…
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Ties that bind: Closely-related players who made AFCON 2023 a family affair

Ties that bind: Closely-related players who made AFCON 2023 a family affair

IN the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a number of closely-related players have graced the tournament with six siblings winning the trophy. Ethiopians Italo and Luciano Vassallo won it together in 1962, Congolese brothers Albert Bwanga and Robert Kazadi were part of the 1974 winning team, Cameroonians Andre and Francois Biyik claimed the crown in 1988 while Egyptians Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan triumphed together twice in 1986 and 1998. Most recently, Zambia’s Christopher and his brother Felix Katongo won the AFCON in 2012 before the Touré brothers of Yaya and Kolo claimed the trophy for Ivory Coast…
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