Cote d'Ivoire have sealed their place in the final of the Cup of Nations with a deserved 1-0 victory over Mali in their semi-final in Libreville on Wednesday.
The Ivorians will now face Zambia in Sunday's decider as they seek to win their first continental championship since 1992, when they beat Ghana in an extraordinary penalty shoot-out in the final that finished 11-10 to The Elephants.
Their passage on this occasion was sealed with a lone goal from Gervinho, an excellent solo effort from a player who has been criticized for his glaring misses in previous matches in this tournament.
Cote d'Ivoire hit the upright for the first time in the match inside five minutes, Siaka Tiene whipping in a cross and Didier Drogba glancing the ball onto the woodwork.
Drogba forced a good save from Mali goalkeeper Soumbeyla Diakite soon afterwards, while Gervinho's inviting cross just eluded Salomon Kalou.
A minute later Yaya Toure unleashed a thunderous drive that whistled past Diakite, but smashed into the upright and away to safety.
Thereafter, the Ivorians were largely reduced to shooting from long range in the first half, but the goal their play deserved finally came just a minute before the break.
Mali defender Ousmane Berthe lunged into a tackle on Gervinho inside the Cote d'Ivoire half, but the Arsenal man swivelled out of it and rampaged away down the left-hand side.
His pace took him clear of the defence and he surged into the penalty area before providing a controlled, precise finish into the far corner with Diakite helpless.
The second half was well controlled by the Ivorians, who had much of the play and never looked unduly troubled.
Kalou forced a finger-tip save from Diakite, while at the other end a rare Mali chance saw Mustapha Yatabare fire just over the bar with a wicked effort that would have left Boubacar Barry in the Cote d'Ivoire goal struggling had it been on target.
Drogba showed some good pace in his old legs to burst into the penalty area, but Diakite saved with the angle narrowing for the Chelsea man.
Berthe's miserable night was almost complete when another Tiene free kick was headed away by the Mali defender, but only just over his own bar for what would have been an embarrassing own goal.
Cote d'Ivoire were able comfortably to hold on until the end and their Golden Generation of stars now have the chance to make up for past disappointments, having been among the favourites for the previous three Nations Cup tournaments.
