AFCON 2015: Ivory Coast Beat DR Congo To Seal Place In Africa Cup Of Nations Final

Goals from Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Serge Wilfried Kanon sealed Ivory Coast's place in the Africa Cup of Nations Final, with a chance to win their first title in 23 years. They will play Equatorial Guinea or Ghana.

Ivory Coast moved within one step of ending their 23-year title drought by beating Democratic Republic of Congo 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

A first-half goal from Yaya Toure was equalized by Dieumerci Mbokani, before goals from Gervinho and Serge Wilfried Kanon sealed a 3-1 win for Ivory Coast, who will now face the winner of Thursday's semifinal between Ghana and hosts Equatorial Guinea.

DR Congo had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute, but Ivory Coast keeper Sylvain Gbohouo made a nice save from Jeremy Bokila's effort.

Ivory Coast then took the lead in the 21st minute, through a thunderous strike from Toure, who ran onto a cross by Wilfried Bony and unleashed an 18-yard rocket past Congo DR keeper Robert Kidiaba.

The score was leveled just three minutes later. Eric Bailly handled a ball in the box, and Mbokani stepped up to the spot and struck his penalty into the bottom right corner.

Gervinho nearly gave the Elephants the lead in the 40th minute as his header went off the crossbar. The Roma winger pushed Ivory Coast back ahead a minute later however, hitting a lay-off from Wilfried Bony first time past Kidiaba.

Gbohouo was called on to keep his team ahead nine minutes after the restart with a low save from a Yannick Bolasie shot.

Ivory Coast sealed their place in the final with a third goal in the 68th minute as Kidiaba stopped Serge Aurier's attempt from a corner, but Kanon was there to hit home the rebound for his first international goal.