The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Ivory Coast-DR Congo: Haller national hero, Kakuta elsewhere... Tops and flops

2024-02-07T23:22:46.023Z

Highlights: Ivory Coast beat Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in the African Cup of Nations final. Sébastien Haller scored the only goal of the game. Franck Kessié was the second most prominent Ivorian in the match. Gaël Kakuta, Seko Fofana and Cédric Bakambu were replaced at half-time. The Elephants will play Nigeria in the final at home on February 20. The final will be held at the National Stadium of Ivory Coast in Abidjan.


The dream continues for the Ivory Coast Elephants. Very close to elimination after their three group matches, Emerse Faé's men qualified for the final after a coherent match against a great team from the Democratic Republic of Congo (1-0).


Tops

To discover

  • African Cup of Nations: schedule and results

  • African Cup of Nations ranking

Sébastien Haller, the permanent threat

The Ivory Coast striker, positioned alone at the forefront of a team in 4-2-3-1, first appeared particularly dangerous in the second part of the first period, with a header in the 40th minute of game in particular, but lacked accuracy in the finish.

In the second half, the Borussia Dortmund striker, who will have to wait to return to his club - which will face PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16 of the Champions League on February 20 - then opened the scoring with a rather lucky volley .

It first bounced in front of the cage of Ruthenian goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, before lobbing the Congolese goalkeeper and slipping into the back of the net.

The only goal of this meeting.

Franck Kessié at the heart of the game

The former AC Milan midfielder was the second most prominent Ivorian in the match.

Essential in midfield, Franck Kessié, who played almost all of Ivory Coast's matches in this African Cup of Nations, also came close to allowing his team to lead early.

First in the 42nd minute, with a beautiful left-footed shot which hit Mpasi's post, then in the 59th minute, where his shot was this time on target but well deflected by the Congolese goalkeeper.

The history of the Elephants in this CAN

Who would have bet on Ivory Coast after the humiliation inflicted by Equatorial Guinea during the third match of the group stages (0-4)?

Drafted as the best third, Côte d'Ivoire, which can count on the support of its public, has come a long way.

They then won on penalties against Senegal then in overtime against Mali thanks to a goal scored... in the 120th + 2.

The story is beautiful.

Read alsoCAN: Ivory Coast offers a final at home against Nigeria

Flops

Gaël Kakuta, transparent and replaced at half-time

The playmaker from the Democratic Republic of Congo missed out on his match.

One might even wonder if he was on the ground.

The Amiens player, formerly of RC Lens in particular, was rewarded for his first half with... an exit, after 45 minutes of play. Replaced by Théo Bongonda.

Seko Fofana narrowly missed

He is one of the best players from Ivory Coast since the start of the competition but this Wednesday, the former RC Lens player (yet another) was not up to the level of the event.

He missed most of his deep passes, struggled to move forward and slowed the game down significantly, which probably explains his exit in the 61st minute.

Replaced by Ibrahim Sangaré.

Cédric Bakambu in the continuity of his tournament

The Real Betis striker, who started five of the DRC's six matches, has not scored a single goal in the competition.

Worse, he only made one small assist in the tournament and missed a penalty.

Against Ivory Coast, he only touched 17 small balls for five losses.

A competition to forget for the 32-year-old striker.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2024-02-07

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.