DR Congo miss out on Africa Cup final after close semi-final defeat

Côte d'Ivoire qualified for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday night. The hosts beat DR Congo 1-0 in the second semi-final of the competition. Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller scored the only goal of the night.

DR Congo last won the trophy in 1974 when it was still known as Zaire. After the game, BRUZZ reported disturbances in the Matongé district of Brussels, known for its large Congolese community, including lots of fireworks.

Côte d'Ivoire will play Nigeria in Sunday's final. The three-time African champions knocked out South Africa, coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, 4-2 on penalties in a tense penalty shoot-out.

"Football can be cruel"

"Football can be cruel," Broos said in a post-match interview. "Sometimes you deserve to win and you don't, sometimes you don't deserve to win and you do. You have to live with it, but in the moment it hurts."

The final, which takes place on Sunday at 21.00 Belgian time, will be the eighth for Nigeria and the fifth for Côte d'Ivoire. The third-place playoff between South Africa and DR Congo takes place at 21.00 on Saturday.

^{© PHOTO SIA KAMBOU / AFP}