Sebastien Haller and Ivory Coast qualify for Africa Cup of Nations semifinals

Sebastien Haller and Ivory Coast are through to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals after securing a stunning come from behind 2-1 win against Mali on Saturday.

Ivory Coast are two games away from winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2015. The 2023 AFCON hosts claimed an incredible 2-1 win over Mali in the quarterfinals on Saturday evening, with Oumar Diakité scoring a 122nd minute winner.

Les Éléphants had earlier fallen behind in the 71st minute thanks to Nene Dorgeles's long-range effort. But Simon Adingra scored in the 90th minute to take the game to extra time. And Diakité then turned home Seko Fofana's shot to secure a dramatic win for his side. Ivory Coast also had to play the majority of the game with ten men after Bayer Leverkusen's Odilon Kossounou was sent off late in the first-half.

Sebastien Haller came on at half-time for Ivory Coast and nearly found the back of the net in the 95th minute, but his header hit the crossbar. The 29 year old will now hope to play from the start as Ivory Coast go up against DR Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals on February 7. Nigeria will take on South Africa in the other semifinal.

It has been a difficult season so far for Sebastien Haller, who has found playing time hard to come by at Borussia Dortmund, and was also linked with a move away from the club on transfer deadline day. He will now hope to help Ivory Coast win the Africa Cup of Nations before returning to BVB and finding his way back into the starting XI.