Ivory Coast striker Sébastien Haller has hailed the collective effort of his team after his 65th-minute strike secured a crucial 1-0 victory over DR Congo and propelled the Elephants into the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The win marks a remarkable turnaround for the host nation, who faced elimination in the group stage before their heroic comeback journey.
“I am very happy for this victory,” said Sébastien Haller, reflecting on his match-winning goal. “At the beginning, my focus wasn’t necessarily on scoring, but on contributing to the team and the nation. Fortunately, I scored a goal this evening thanks to the work of the whole team.’’
DR Congo pushed for an equalizer, but the Ivorian defense held firm, mirroring their resilience in the dramatic quarter-final win against Mali.
This victory sets up a mouthwatering final against Nigeria on February 11th. The Super Eagles secured their spot earlier on Wednesday, overcoming South Africa 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Both South Africa and DR Congo will look to bounce back from their semi-final disappointments when they battle for third place on February 10th