By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,
DRC 1-3 COTE D’IVOIRE
Ivory Coast demonstrated the huge gulf that exists between them and Congo Democratic Republic with a resounding victory in Bata.The victory means the cup will remain in West Africa,after Ghana and hosts Equatorial Guinea cancel each other out on Thursday in Malabo.
Captain Yaya Toure led from the front,the Manchester City midfielder cracking in a twenty yards short on twenty minutes after his new club mate Wilfried Bony’s shimmy.Their celebrations were shortlived,Eric Bailly handling in the area three minutes later.
Dioudane Mbokani tucked away the resultant penalty.Returning winger Gervais Yao Kouassi had a header cleared off the line and ricocheted against the crossbar as the Elephants pressed forward.A minute later the Roma forward got his due reward,Yannick Bolasie’s complacent backpass intercepted by Bony who fed Gervinho.
Bolasie almost made amends on fifty two minutes,dancing past the static Ivorian backline before his low short was blocked by the trailing foot of Sylvain Gbouhou in goal.
Serge Kanon took the wind out of the Congolese’ sails,tapping in a rebound on sixty seven minutes after Muteba Kidiaba punched back into play Serge Aurier’s powerful header off a Yaya Toure corner.
Junior Kalonji was booked twenty minutes from full time for trying to score using his hand as Florent Ibenge’s men grew continually frustrated.
DRC will play in the third place playoff on Saturday,a day before the final.
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