Ivory Coast ease into Africa Cup of Nations final with 3-1 win over DR Congo

French coach Herve Renard moved closer to a second Africa Cup of Nations triumph as Ivory Coast defeated Democratic Republic of Congo 3-1 in a semi-final in Bata on Wednesday.

Yaya Toure gave Ivory Coast the lead, Dieumerci Mbokani equalised from a penalty, Gervinho restored the lead before half-time and Serge Wilfried Kanon added a third goal.

Renard guided outsiders Zambia to glory in 2012 with a penalty shootout final victory over Ivory Coast.

The Frenchman hopes to become only the third coach after Ghanaian Charles Gyamfi and Egyptian Hassan Shehata to win the Cup of Nations more than once.

In the final on Sunday, Ivory Coast will face hosts Equatorial Guinea or favoured Ghana, who clash Thursday in Malabo.

There were few secrets between the teams going into the match at a far-from-full Estadio de Bata as they met twice in the qualifying competition.

Ivory Coast triumphed 2-1 in the Democratic Republic of Congo last October only to suffer a shock 4-3 home loss four days later.

DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge made one change from the team that started in a come-from-behind 4-2 quarter-final win over Congo Brazzaville with defender Joel Kimwaki replacing Cedric Mongongu.