Sébastien Haller fires Ivory Coast into Africa Cup final against Nigeria. Hosts beat Congo 1-0

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Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Haller celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Haller reacts after missing a chance during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Haller misses a chance during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Ivory Coast players, center, celebrate after winning the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Ivory Coast won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Ivory Coast’s Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani is tackled by DR Congo’s Henock Inonga during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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DR Congo’s Samuel Moutoussamy, left and Ivory Coast’s Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani battle for the ball during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Haller, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Ivory Coast players, top center, celebrate after winning the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Ivory Coast and DR Congo, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Ivory Coast won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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Nigeria’s players celebrate winning the penalty shootout during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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South Africa’s players are dejected after losing the penalty shootout during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Nigeria’s Victor Boniface celebrates after his team won the penalty shootout during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Nigeria’s Ola Aina, left, and South Africa’s Percy Tau, follow the ball during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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A Nigeria supporter shouts before the African Cup of Nations semi final soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong, speaks to the referee during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Nigeria’s Ola Aina, reacts after failing to score from a penalty shot during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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South Africa’s Evidence Makgopa reacts after failing to score from a penalty shot during the African Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Nigeria and South Africa, at the Peace of Bouake stadium in Bouake Bouake, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

By CIARÁN FAHEY

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Sébastien Haller fired host nation Ivory Coast into an Africa Cup of Nations final against old foe Nigeria with a 1-0 win over Congo on Wednesday.

Haller scored when his volley from Max Gradel’s cross bounced before going in under the crossbar in the 65th minute, setting off wild celebrations in the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Haller was making his first start of the tournament after recovering fully from an ankle injury, further good news for Ivorians who were already convinced God is helping the Elephants to their third Africa Cup title.

Progress seemed unlikely after a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left the team on the verge of a group-stage exit. But Ivory Coast has bounced back since firing its coach by overcoming one setback after another.

“It’s like a dream,” said interim coach Emerse Faé, who had to do without four players who were suspended for the semifinal following the dramatic quarterfinal win over Mali.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning penalty earlier to send Nigeria to the final with a 4-2 shootout victory over South Africa after their semifinal ended 1-1 after extra time.

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Ivory Coast 's Seko Fofana, top, duels for the ball with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

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“It has been with me since growing up, I need to win something with the Super Eagles,” Nigeria star Victor Osimhen said.

Congo had made a good start against the home team. Cédric Bakambu thought he’d put the Leopards ahead but his celebrations were cut short and the goal ruled out as goalkeeper Yahia Fofana was deemed to have had the ball.

“It could have been another match,” Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said of the disallowed goal. “But we can’t re-write history. It is how it is.”

Simon Adingra headed a good chance wide and Franck Kessié struck the post for Ivory Coast, while Yoane Wissa had an big chance saved by Fofana at the other end.

Fan favorite Haller headed the best chance of the first half wide in the 41st and went on to miss other good chances. All were forgiven when he scored the winner.

Congo’s players and Desabre protested by holding their right hands in front of their mouths and two fingers to their temples during the country’s anthem to spotlight the armed violence taking part in the east of the country. The players also wore black armbands for the game.

SUPER EAGLES PREVAIL

There were no heroics this time in the penalty shootout from South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved four in the quarterfinal win over Cape Verde.

Nigeria counterpart Stanley Nwabali made two penalty saves to deny the Bafana Bafana a place in the final — diving to the bottom left corner to thwart Teboho Mokoena, then Evidence Makgopa’s centrally placed effort.

The game in Bouaké had barely started when Osimhen doubled over in apparent pain. Osimhen was an injury worry before the game because of abdominal pain, but he was able to resume after a brief pause.

Nwabali was busy early on as South Africa dominated possession and created more chances in the first half.

Nigeria got its break midway through the second when Mothobi Mvala conceded a penalty for a foul on Osimhen.

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong coolly fired the spot kick to the center of the goal in the 67th, though Williams almost stopped it with his legs.

Osimhen thought he’d sealed the win in the 85th, only to have the goal ruled out after a VAR check found Alhassan Yusuf had fouled Percy Tau in the area. South Africa was duly awarded a penalty.

Mokoena made no mistake with the spot kick to equalize in the 90th minute and Khuliso Mudau went on to miss a great chance to seal a South African win in stoppage time.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer