Cote d'Ivoire face DRC with another chance to forget horrors at Cup of Nations
"The Elephants who forgot" would be an apt title for at least one of the feature-length films that will surely flow out to an adoring public should Cote d'Ivoire dispose of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on Wednesday evening at the Alassane Outtara Stadium and either South Africa or Nigeria on Sunday night at the same venue.
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Two Wednesdays ago, Cote d'ivoire - who are nicknamed 'The Elephants' - had to wait until the end of the Group F game between Morocco and Zambia to find out whether they could advance as one of the four best third-placed teams.
A Zambia draw in San Pedro would mean elimination. But Morocco held on to their 1-0 lead and the Ivorian nation rejoiced.
On the blue Monday two days earlier, there had been wailing as the team and country processed a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Equatorial Guinea - the worst home defeat .
“We were at the bottom of a hole after losing to Equatorial Guinea," said influential Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana on the eve of the clash against DRC.
"We had to wait for the rest of the group matches to find out whether we qualified, which happened.
"After all that we endured, we are no longer afraid of anything,” he added.
Progress to the last four appears to have been aided by opponents refusing to go for the jugular.
Escape
Senegal scored four minutes into the last-16 tie in Yamoussoukro to rake up nerves.
But the defending champions sat back and allowed Cote d'Ivoire to stay in the match which they eventually claimed in a penalty shoot-out.
Following the dismissal of Odilon Kossounou for two bookable offences, Mali played with an extra man for the entire second-half and all of extra-time but still lost 2-1.
“After the Equatorial Guinea match we were insulted and we felt alone," added Fofana.
"But we managed to get through. Champions always manage to advance."
The DRC - considered a group of journeymen - have admitted their initial ambition was to reach the last-16.
However, after three draws during the group stages, they showed guts to see off Egypt in a penalty shoot-out following a tense, stodgy tie.
Belief
They then displayed belief and resilience to come from behind to overwhelm Guinea 3-1 in the quarter-final in Abidjan.
The Congolese might not be as accommodating as previous adversaries in the knockout rounds.
"It would be stupid not to believe we can go on and get into the final,” said DRC coach Sebastien Desabre.
"But Cote d'Ivoire has an extremely good team. Even if they have four players suspended, they have quality replacements which is the same as us."
Desabre, 47, is seeking to become the first coach for 50 years to lead a team from the country to the Cup of Nations trophy.
At the time of the last triumph, the land was known as Zaire. "The players will try and play a good game and defend the national jersey," Desabre added.
Plea
On Monday, skipper Chancel Mbemba and striker Cédric Bakambu took to social media to highlight the armed violence in the east of their country
“Everyone sees the massacres in eastern Congo. But everyone is silent,” Bakambu wrote.
“Put the same energy that you use talking about the Africa Cup to highlight what is happening with us. There are no small gestures.”
Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence for decades as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources.
“Thinking of all the all the victims of the atrocities in Goma and their families,” Mbemba wrote on X referring to the Congolese city bordering Rwanda.
“I pray with all my heart that my country regains its peace.”
Added Desabre: "The match will be special as it will not only be a semi-final but also a chance for the players to show that they care and that they're thinking about everyone who is suffering in Congo."
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