Ivory Coast will be gunning for revenge in today's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bata after a stunning home loss in a qualifier between them last October.
"We hurt their pride when we beat them at home, the big Ivory Coast. They had not lost at home during the generation of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. They will now want to avenge that loss," said DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge, referring to the famous 4-3 qualifying triumph.
"But we are also armed with the motivation to reach the final. That is our target."
Max-Alain Gradel fired a wonder goal against Cameroon for the 1992 African champions to win Group D in Equatorial Guinea and he said Ivory Coast want to go all the way after they were regarded as favourites in previous editions of the competition without ever lifting the trophy.
"It is going to be a good game. DR Congo defeated us in Abidjan during the qualifiers, but this time it will be different. We are going to prepare well to get through," he predicted.
"It's together that we are going to go all the way. We are going to work to finish the job."The clash could not have come at a better time for both teams as they appear to have hit peak form after indifferent starts to this tournament.
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