Renard unhappy despite semi final triumph

C?te d'Ivoire drillmaster Herve Renard said his aggregation took abounding things for accepted while benumbed to the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations by acquisition Congo DR 3-1 in Bata Wednesday.

The Elephants able for the Cup of Nations decider afterwards skipper Yaya Toure put them advanced address of a 20th-minute belter alone for Congo DR to draw akin about anon from the amends atom through Dieumerci Mbokani.

Gervinho adequate the Ivorians' advance four account from half-time, and Wilfried Kanon captivated up the achievement in the 68th minute.

"I did not like this game. We played too simple and did not account an adversary who fought aback to exhausted Congo Brazzaville in the quarter-finals," said Renard. "We did not appearance abundant assurance - apparently the baby army did not accord us the appropriate atmosphere to do so.

"Congo DR are consistently a actual alarming team. They were actual fast on the argue with Mbokani and (Yannick) Bolasie. But the a lot of important affair is we are now in the final and we achievement to yield the Cup aback to Abidjan."

The coach, who won the African appellation with Zambia in 2012, singled out Yaya Toure for appropriate praise. "Yaya may not be at his top akin with Ivory Coast, but he sacrificed a lot for this team. He has formed actual harder for this team," he said.

The Frenchman aswell accepted Congo DR drillmaster Florent Ibenge, adage he has accurate his account afterwards allegorical V Club to the 2014 CAF Champions League final and demography his country to the Cup of Nations semi-finals.

"What is a lot of important is competence, not the colour of your skin," he said, praising the alone African drillmaster to ability the knockout date of this tournament.

Ibenge said: "Renard took me by abruptness with his bold plan. He was actual able by alteration his game, arresting and aswell arena fast counterattacks.