2015 AFCON: Cote d’ Ivoire, DRC In Grudge Showdown

Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo meet to settle a score on to night in Bata whose prize will be a place in Sunday’s 2015 Africa Cup final.
The two sides meet for the third time in five months after clashing in Group D of the 2015 Africa Cup qualifiers.
Cote d’Ivoire beat DR Congo 2-1 in the first leg meeting on October 11 in Kinshasa but The Leopards turned the tables four days later albeit in dramatic fashion with a last minute winner.
DR Congo took a 3-1 halftime lead to win 4-3 away in Abidjan on October 15 when Jeremy Bokila scored the winner in the 88th minute.
Cote d’Ivoire striker Max Gradel, who scored against DR Congo in Kinshasa, has not hidden his desire for some payback in to night’s clash.
“It is going to be a good game. DR Congo defeated us in Abidjan during the qualifiers, but this time it will be different,” Gradel said.
“We are going to prepare well to get through.”
Cote d’Ivoire is seeking their first final appearance since losing to Zambia in 2012.
They have no major injury worries and coach Herve Renard will be happy with what he saw last Sunday especially from talismanic striker Gervinho in that 3-1 demolition of Algeria.
Meanwhile, DR Congo head into the match on a high after eliminating neighbours Congo Brazzaville 4-2 in a match they are rallied from 2-0 to book their semifinal passage.
The two-time champions will be seeking their first final appearance since 1974 when they went on to pick up their second African crown.
However, DR Congo will be outing defender Gabriel Zakuani who is out of the tournament with an ankle injury.
Coach Florent Ibenge is also sweating on the fitness of midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu who has been struggling with a hamstring injury from the group stage.

Cote d’Ivoire Cheikh Tiote is expected to anchor the Elephants’ midfield after recovering from injury to be fit against DR Congo in to night AFCON semi final game.