Hot and humid conditions in northern Abidjan meant players from both sides were already bathed in sweat by the time Cedric Bakambu poked into an empty net with fewer than nine minutes on the clock, but the DRC striker’s early opener was promptly chalked off upon closer inspection, as the ball had been kicked out of Yahia Fofana’s hands in the build-up.
Buoyed by home support, Ivory Coast began turning the screw towards the end of a finely-balanced first period. Wilfried Singo’s crossing from the right proved a persistent threat, and the Monaco man laid one on a plate for Haller, only for the forward to head wide from seven yards out as an exasperated Didier Drogba turned away horrified up in the stands.
Within two minutes, a well-worked move saw Max Gradel’s tempting lay-off latched onto by Franck Kessie, whose left-footed effort smacked the base of the post to leave the Elephants wondering whether they would come to rue their near-misses.
Half-time substitute Theo Bongonda almost made the hosts pay, announcing his introduction with a run into the box and a shot which hit the side-netting, before Haller finally gave the sea of orange-shirted supporters what they came for.
The roar was deafening as Haller volleyed Gradel’s cross into the turf, causing it to loop over the helpless Lionel Mpasi between the sticks.
Haller went close twice more before the final whistle, directing a near-post header onto the roof of the net and seeing an audacious lob drift narrowly wide as the Leopards’ tournament bid ended with a whimper.
With the DRC heading home, Nigeria now stand between Ivory Coast and their third AFCON title as rookie manager Emerse Faé, who was appointed midway through the competition, gears up for Sunday’s showpiece final with a fairytale triumph at stake.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Max Gradel (Ivory Coast)
