Toure leads Elephants to AFCON final

The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire booked a place in the final of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 3-1 win over DR Congo.

Africa’s finest Yaya Toure put his team ahead with a strike from 20-yard out after 20 minutes but four minutes later Dieumerci Mbokani equalised from the spot after Eric Bailly was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

Gervinho made it 2-1 from a counter-attack in the 41st minute and Wilfried Kanon made sure of the win for the 1992 champions with a goal in the 68th minute.

The Elephants needed a couple of last minute blocks to prevent an early DR Congo goal but gradually they started to assert their authority as the game wore on.

Toure’s goal after 20 minutes calmed their nerves.

The Manchester City midfielder had provided Bony the assist for his goal against Algeria in the quarter-finals but this time the former Swansea striker returned the compliment albeit inadvertently.

Bony’s miscued shot somehow found Toure who wasted no chance to blast an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.

The lead was short-lived as Bailly mistimed a header inside his own area, causing the ball to brush off his arm. Cameroonian referee Neant Alioum immediately pointed to the spot and Mbokina converted from 12 yards.

Toure almost put his side back in the lead but his side footed free-kick from 30 yards narrowly missed target.

Gervinho made it 2-1 for the Elephants with four minutes of the first half to play. Bony was again the architect, delaying before laying a through ball to leave the Roma forward a simple finish.

After the restart, DR Congo frantically searched for an equaliser with Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolassie leading the charge.

However, the Leopards’ could not penetrate the Elephants’ rear guard and it was the leaders who almost scored with Toure firing narrowly wide with a fierce strike from an acute angle in the 60th minute.

A Toure corner after 68 minutes secured the win for Cote d’Ivoire.

His curling set-piece was met by a Serge Aurier’s header which Kidiaba could only parry but Kanon was on hand to score the rebound.

Cote d’Ivoire will now face the winner between Ghana and host Equatorial Guinea in Sunday’s final.

Line-up

DR Congo: Kidiaba, Mpeko, Zakuani, Mongongu, Kasusula , Makiadi, Mbemba, Mabwati, Bolasie, Mbokani, Bokila

Cote d’Ivoire: Gbohouo, Kolo, Tiene, Kanon, Aurier, Bailly, Die, Yaya, Gradel, Gervinho, Bony