Ivory Coast vs DR Congo LIVE! AFCON match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo - LIVE!

Hosts Ivory Coast look to continue a truly remarkable Africa Cup of Nations run as they take on DR Congo in the semi-finals tonight. A 4-0 group-stage defeat to Equatorial Guinea looked likely to knock Ivory Coast out, with boss Jean-Louis Gasset sacked, but they snuck through as the worst of the third-placed teams to qualify.

It has been a dramatic run since then too, with Ivory Coast beating defending AFCON champions Senegal in the last-16, before somehow edging past Mali in the quarter-finals. The Elephants went down to ten men in the first-half, forced extra time with a last-gasp equaliser, and Oumar Diakite then struck a winner in the 122nd minute.

DR Congo have had an eventful time of themselves, as they bid to lift the trophy for the first time since 1974. They progressed out of their group without winning a single match, beat Egypt on penalties and then saw off Guinea to book their place in the semi-finals. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo latest news

• GOAL! Haller gives Ivory Coast the lead

• Kessie strikes the post as Ivory Coast search for the lead

08:15 , Alex Young

The AFCON final is set as Ivory Coast beat DR Congo to set a date with Nigeria, who beat South Africa, on Sunday.

Here’s everything you need to know about the showpiece, which is a repeat of the match-up from Group A, when William Troost-Ekong’s penalty settled the game for Nigeria.

FULL-TIME!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:57 , Dom Smith

That’s it! Ivory Coast will meet Nigeria in the final. DR Congo did all they could, but the hosts stood firm and have reached the final.

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 90+3'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:56 , Dom Smith

Chance for Bamba to cross as he rounds Mpasi, but his delivery is headed clear by Baka.

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 90+1'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:53 , Dom Smith

Five minutes added on. Time fast running out for DR Congo!

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 90'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:53 , Dom Smith

Another double change for the Ivory Coast as Boga and Krasso come on for Gradel and Haller, who combined for the only goal of this game so far.

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 80'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:42 , Dom Smith

Jonathan Bamba is on in place of Adingra for the Ivory Coast.

Meanwhile, Silas Wamangituka has replaced Elia for DR Congo.

10 minutes for them to find an equaliser!

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 78'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:40 , Dom Smith

Meschak Elia catches a volley sweetly, but it bounces just wide and Ivory Coast survive.

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 75'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:37 , Dom Smith

Cooling break for the players. DR Congo 15 minutes away from being knocked out of the competition unless they can force a late equaliser here somehow...

Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo | 73'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:35 , Dom Smith

Three changes for DR Congo as Bakambu, Pickel and Wissa are replaced.

On in their place are Banza, Mayele and Tshibola.

GOAL! Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:27 , Dom Smith

66’ Ivory Coast fire themselves into the lead with the goal that could send them all the way to the final!

Gradel with the cross and Haller reaches to stroke a downward volley which bounces up and over the goalkeeper, dipping just under the bar and in.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 62'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:24 , Dom Smith

Double change for Ivory Coast. Seri and Fofana off for Lazare and Sangare.

Fresh legs for the hosts.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 59'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:21 , Dom Smith

Kessie fires from range but Mpasi is equal to the effort and pushes wide.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 48'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:11 , Dom Smith

Half-time substitute Bongonda, for Kakuta, escapes the Ivorian defence but fires into the side netting when really he ought to have hit the target.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 46'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 21:07 , Dom Smith

Back underway in the second half. Can one of these teams find the goal that will take them to a blockbuster AFCON final against Nigeria?

Half-time

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:50 , Dom Smith

The players head back to the dressing room all score.

After a decent start, DR Congo have faded and now the favourites Ivory Coast are in the ascendancy.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 45'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:47 , Dom Smith

Three added minutes at the end of this first half.

WOOWORK!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:44 , Dom Smith

42’ Kessie strikes from range and his cannoned effort slams back off the upright with Mpasi well beaten by the thunderous effort.

Ivory Coast, you sense, getting closer...

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 41'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:42 , Dom Smith

Haller simply HAS to score there.

Wilfried Singo is getting increasingly more space on the right flank. His cross has lovely shape on it, and Haller inexplicably nods wide with no DR Congo defenders anywhere near him.

You’d expect better from the Borussia Dortmund man!

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 36'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:37 , Dom Smith

Wild effort by Sebastian Haller, whose overhead kick flies way over the bar.

A waste for the Ivory Coast, but they are certainly growing into the contest.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 27'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:30 , Dom Smith

Brentford star Yoane Wissa is miles offside when the ball reaches him, but it’s a fabulous save nonetheless by Fofana, who extends his leg to block.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 20'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:20 , Dom Smith

Former Chelsea man Gael Kakuta fires from range, but his shot has the power taken off it by a decent block.

DR Congo the better side so far.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 19'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:19 , Dom Smith

Adingra of Brighton rises highest to meet an excellent cross from the right. His downward bounces agonisingly wide from the hosts’ perspective!

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 16'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:17 , Dom Smith

DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi comes to punch an Ivory Coast corner.

Confident goalkeeping from the 29-year-old.

DISALLOWED GOAL!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:11 , Dom Smith

9’ DR Congo think they’re ahead after Bakambu heads home, but the referee decided the ball was unfairly kicked out of the hands of goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. The goal is not allowed to stand.

As you were. 0-0.

Ivory Coast 0-0 DR Congo | 5'

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:06 , Dom Smith

Big protestations from Pickel, but he is rightly pulled up by referee for a robust tackle on Seko Fofana which was definitely a foul.

Kick-off!

Wednesday 7 February 2024 20:02 , Dom Smith

1’ Underway here as Ivory Coast and DR Congo contest the second AFCON semi-final!

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nigeria are through! They beat South Africa on penalties.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nigeria and South Africa are now having a penalty shootout to claim the first place in the final!

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: A look inside the dressing rooms

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

Calm before the storm!

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

This tournament does not let up!

Confirmed Ivory Coast lineup vs DR Congo

Wednesday 7 February 2024 19:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Konan, Boly, Ndicka, Singo; Fofana, Seri, Kessie; Gradel, Haller, Adingra

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nigeria and South Africa are now heading to extra-time.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

South Africa have now levelled in the last minute against Nigeria!

It looks set to go to extra-time.

Confirmed DR Congo lineup vs Ivory Coast

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

DR Congo XI: Nzau; Baka, Mbemba, Mambenga, Kawela; Lina, Monginda, Kyatengwa, Moutoussamy; Wissa, Bakambu

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo! AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nigeria have taken the lead! Troost-Ekong has struck a second-half penalty.

One of Ivory Coast or DR Congo could await the Super Eagles...

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: AFCON latest

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:23 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nigeria and South Africa are currently 0-0 in the other semi-final.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: When is the AFCON final?

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

The AFCON final will be held at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan at 8pm GMT on Sunday 11 February.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: Pressure off DRC

Wednesday 7 February 2024 18:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

DR Congo, meanwhile, can approach this as something of a free-hit.

Not necessarily expected to get to this stage, the hosts will be expected to make reasonably light work of this, albeit in an AFCON that has so far been full of shocks.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: Momentum with the hosts

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ivory Coast endured such a torrid group stage they even sacked their manager but have gone on quite the journey since.

They’ve left it late against both Senegal and Mali but are now one game from the final.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: Latest odds

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ivory Coast to qualify: 9/20

DR Congo to qualify: 31/20

Odds via Bet365 (subject to change).

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

This is a repeat of the 2015 Cup of Nations semi-final, which the Ivorians won 3-1 courtesy of goals from Gervinho, Wilfried Kanon and Yaya Toure.

Ivory Coast wins: 6

DR Congo wins: 4

Draws: 5

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: Score prediction today

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

It has been nigh on impossible to knock the hosts out of this tournament, no matter how likely it appears to have been on multiple occasions.

Fate and fortune looks to be on their side.

Ivory Coast to win, 2-1.

DR Congo team news vs Ivory Coast today

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is set to start for DR Congo, who have Gael Kakuta back from injury.

Ivory Coast team news vs DR Congo today

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

The hosts will be without both Oumar Diakite and Odilon Kossounou after they were sent off against Mali, the former receiving his second booking for removing his shirt in celebrating the winning goal. Serge Aurier and Christian Kouame are also banned.

Willy Boly is most likely to step in for Kossounou in defence whereas Sebastien Haller may finally be fit to start having overcome an ankle injury.

Ivory Coast vs DR Congo: TV channel and live stream

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC Three, with coverage starting at 7.45pm GMT, as well as Sky Sports Football.

Live stream: Sky subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app while the game will also be shown for free via the BBC Sport and iPlayer portals.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Welcome

Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Ivory Coast vs DR Congo in the AFCON semi-final today.

Kick-off from the Alassane Ouattara Stadium is at 8pm GMT.