Soccer-Ivorian woes behind them as they look confidently ahead to semi-final clash

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Semi Final - Ivory Coast Training - Lycee Technique de Cocody, Abidjan, Ivory Coast - February 6, 2024 Ivory Coast's Jeremie Boga with teammates during training REUTERS/Luc Gnago

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Hosts Ivory Coast have put behind them their early round woes to emerge confident of success when they take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, said experienced midfielder Max-Alain Gradel.

The home side crawled through the group phase in unconvincing fashion but victory over Senegal and Mali since has handed them renewed confidence as they look to become the first Cup of Nations hosts since Egypt in 2006 to reach the final.