Favourites Cote d'Ivoire powered into the final of the African Nations Cup after a deserved 3-1 success over DR Congo in Bata on Wednesday.
The Ivorians produced their best display of the tournament as they stormed into Sunday's tournament decider thanks to goals from Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Wilfried Kanon.
DR Congo played well enough, but were outclassed on the night with Dieumerci Mbokani getting what turned out to be a consolation goal.
Cote d'Ivoire now await the winner of the second semi-final between Ghana and hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, with DR Congo to play the loser of that tie in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
DR Congo had the first opportunity early on as first Jeremie Bokila saw his shot well-saved by Sylvain Gbohouo in the Ivorian goal, before Mbokani blasted the rebound over the bar.
But the Ivorians began to dictate the tempo of the play and when Wilfried Bony's shot was blocked on 20 minutes, Toure latched onto the loose ball and smashed the ball into the back of the net from just outside the penalty area.
Although the strike on goal was close to Robert Kidiaba, the power in the shot gave the gloveman no chance.
It took DR Congo just four minutes to draw level though as Eric Bailly handled the ball in the box to provide Mbokani a chance from the penalty spot.
The Dynamo Kiev forward kept his cool to fire low into the corner of the net from 12 yards.
The Elephants almost grabbed the lead again five minutes before the break when Gervinho's headed effort was superbly cleared off the line via the crossbar.
But just a minute later and the Roma forward did get his goal as Bony picked up a loose pass in midfield and fed Gervinho on the left-hand side of the box. His shot had the beating of a flailing Kidiaba.
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Yannick Bolasie forced an excellent stop from Gbohouo early in the second period as he weaved his way into the Ivorian box, only to be denied by the goalkeeper.
Yaya Toure, having his best game of the tournament, forced another fine save from Kidiaba at his near-post as the west Africans dominated possession.
And the Ivorians killed the contest when they scored their third. Serge Aurier's near-post header from a corner was well saved by Kidiaba, but Kanon rifled home the rebound into the roof of the net.
Cote d'Ivoire comfortably closed out the game after that to reach their third final in a decade, but will hope this time to go one better than their defeats in 2006 and 2012.
Their coach, Herve Renard, could make history by becoming the first coach to win the Nations Cup with two different countries. He led Zambia to the 2012 title over current side Ivory Coast.
