Sébastien Haller emerged as the hero for Ivory Coast, scoring the only goal of the game in the 65th minute to send the host nation into the final of the 2024 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo. The Elephants faced an uphill battle after finishing third in their group stage, but interim coach Emerse Faé has orchestrated a remarkable run in the knockout rounds. They first stunned defending champions Senegal on penalties before overcoming a red card to defeat Mali 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Against DR Congo, the two-time champions who themselves have eliminated host nations on their way to previous titles, the game was tight and tense. However, with 25 minutes remaining, Max Gradel delivered a pinpoint cross that found Halle and the Borussia Dortmund striker hit the ball onto the ground past the goalkeeper to send the Ivorian crowd into raptures. This marks the first time since Egypt in 2006 that a host nation has reached the AFCON final on home soil. It also adds another layer of intrigue to the final, as Ivory Coast will face group stage conquerors Nigeria, who defeated them 1-0 in the second group match. The $7 million rich trophy will be decided on Sunday in Abidjan, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. DR Congo, despite the defeat, will have a chance to claim third place when they face South Africa in the consolation match. Ivory Coast, however, will be riding a wave of momentum and belief, aiming to rewrite history and lift the trophy on home soil.