Zambia will take on Ghana while Cote d’Ivoire will slug it out with Mali.

Semi final matches for the ongoing 28^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place today in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea respectively. In the first semi final encounter to take place in Bata, Zambia will lock horns with Ghana while Cote d’Ivoire slugs it out with Mali in the other semi-final match in Libreville.

After having achieved their pre-tournament ambition at the Africa Cup of Nations by progressing to the semi-final stage, Zambia set a new target for a side that was vastly underrated. The Chipolopolos are now keen on making it to the final in honour of those members of the national team who died off the coast of Gabon in 1993 when they challenge pre-tournament favourites, Ghana. "We have another target; to reach Gabon on 12 February for the circumstances we know, the catastrophe of 1993," the coach said to Fifa.com.

On paper, Ghana has the advantage having won the nations cup four times in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 but will however be thirsty for victory to end the 30 years draught. Whereas Zambia has never rose to the top of the firmament in Africa and are in their first semi-finals in 16 years. Tournament co-favourites, Ghana beat Tunisia 2-1 after extra time to book a semi-final spot. The Chipolopolos target their first continental title while Black Stars aim for 5^th trophy.

The other semi-final match will pit co-favourites Cote d’Ivoire, who have recorded an unbeaten run in the tournament, against Mali. The stake will be to find out if Mali will be able to break through the impermeable Cote d’Ivoire defence which has not conceded a goal since the qualifying phase of the competition. More so, Mali is fired up after the historic qualification for the semi finals of the tournament and will therefore be fighting to push their luck as far as they can in the competition. Cote d’Ivoire on the contrary has what it takes to clinch a final spot as they have experienced players who have been playing together for long and they know the best chance is now to lift the continental trophy with the absence of heavy weights in African football like Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon. Football lovers therefore predict a dream final between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire as they are only major contenders still in competition.