After four decades, the two-time winners have the chance to reach the final but will have to deal with a reborn Elephants side who have lap of luxury playing at home back by the local support.
DR Congo national team are one step away from reaching the final of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations as they face tournament hosts Ivory Coast in a semi-final encounter to be played at the Olympique Stadium of Ebimpé in Abidjan tonight.
The Leopards have not reached the final since the historical 1974 edition, then as Zaire, and look to break semi-final jinx that has seen them fail to negotiate past the last four in both of their last attempts in 1998 and 2015.
Sebastien Desabre’s side made a quiet passage into the penultimate rounds of the tournament having won just one match in normal time so far which a 3-1 win over Guinea in the quarter-finals to set up an tonight’s epic clash against the Ivorians.
With three draws in the group stage, the Leopards progressed into the knockout phase before edging record champions Egypt on penalties in the Round of 16 stage.
The Leopards meet the Elephants of Ivory Coast for the sixth time at the AFCON and have only won once against the hosts of this year’s edition, losing twice and drawing the other two encounters.
The last meeting between the two sides was a thrilling 2-2 draw in group stages of the 2017 edition held in Equatorial Guinea which the Elephants went on to claim.
The Elephants narrowly escaped the jaws of elimination after finishing third in Group A having lost two, including a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, of their matches in the group stage.
Emerse Faé, now in charge after Jean-Louis Gasset’s departure, look to steer his nation past a resilient DR Congo side that has yet to lose a match at the tournament.
The Leopards have been augmented through the tournament by their strong back line led by captain Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku, Gédéon Kalulu and Henock Inonga who will be crucial once again tonight.
Desabre’s defence has proved vital in complementing the attack who made a slow start before bursting into brilliance against Guinea.
Yoane Wissa with two goals so far, Theo Bongonda and Cedric Bakambu supported by the ever-functioning midfield consisting of Gaël Kakuta, Samuel Moutoussamy and Charles Pickel holding up.
Meanwhile, the Congolese will also have to wary of the luxury of attacking options that the Ivorians possess in the likes of Sebastian Haller, Nicolas Pépé, Simon Adingra with Seko Fofana and Ibrahim Sangaré pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
The winner of tonight’s match kicking will meet the winner of the other semi-final clash pitting South Africa and Nigeria also to be played this evening in Bouaké.
