BATA, Equatorial Guinea: Ivory Coast may no longer play an eye-catching passing game, but they are a hard-working team poised to be crowned African champions 23 years after their only previous triumph.

On Sunday at the Estadio de Bata, the Elephants will face the winners of the second semifinal between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Ghana for the title after a 3-1 semifinal victory Wednesday over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ivorians grinded out the win they needed against Cameroon to top Group D after labored draws against Mali and Guinea.

France-born coach Herve Renard was the first to admit they knocked out a better team in Algeria at the quarterfinals stage.

And against DR Congo, the Elephants were again not the fluid side they have been down the years, but they got the job done.

“Ivory Coast changed their way of playing. Hervé Renard was clever enough to realize that his team was too glamorous,” acknowledged DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge.

“He used three center-backs and instead of having possession, they played at the back, counter-attacked, and were much more efficient.”

Exciting Roma winger and semifinal scorer Gervinho said: “We fought to get where we are. We managed to get the motivation and to show that we are still Ivory Coast.”

Leading Senegalese journalist Aliou Goloko, who is covering the Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, said: “It is no longer beautiful Ivory Coast, but the most important thing is that they have so far got the results they needed.

“And now they will be favorites against whoever they face in the final.”

In 1992, when they won the Nations Cup after a marathon penalty shootout with Ghana in Dakar, they were an exciting side.

Blessed with talented stars like Youssouf Fofana, Abdoulaye Traore, Joel Tiehi and Serge-Alain Maguy, the Ivorians had an attractive passing philosophy based on crack Abidjan club ASEC Mimosas.

Renard admits he is now in charge of a “different but fascinating” team.

“We have a different style from the Ivory Coast of the past. We have a balance of hard workers and talented players.

“This is perfect for the Ivory Coast,” he explained.

Manchester City star and Ivory Coast skipper Yaya Toure, Wilfried Bony and Gervinho play beside industrious players like Serey Die, Eric Bailly and Serge Wilfried Kanon with a greater sense of purpose.

But what has not changed with the Elephants over the years is an overflow of attacking options, which proud Renard says are spearheaded by “fantastic scorer” Bony, the new Manchester City signing from Swansea.

“I start with (Max-Alain) Gradel, Gervinho and Bony in attack and on the bench I still have Salomon (Kalou), (Seydou) Doumbia and Lassina Traore.

“Yes, we have options to score goals, even though these players may disagree because I cannot play all of them at the same time,” joked Renard.