Afcon Genius Moment: Yaya Toure thunderbolt sets Cote d'Ivoire on path to final

The 31-year-old's unstoppable strike against DR Congo helped to secure the Elephants another chance to be crowned continental champions for the first time since 1992

There is nothing in football quite like the sight of Yaya Toure at his most explosive, powerful best.

The Cote d'Ivoire star delivered a true moment of genius when his country needed it most in Wednesday's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against DR Congo, giving Herve Renard's side the lead with a shot of such force you almost expected it to burst straight through the net.

Toure has played a disciplined, withdrawn role at the base of his team's midfield in Equatorial Guinea and the way his ability to attack has been restricted has drawn criticism from some quarters.

It is a job he has performed before, most notably while a Barcelona player, but the relief and release he felt when he spotted a loose ball around the edge of the opposition area and hammered it home was palpable.

His shot crashed past Robert Kidiaba and had hit the net and bounced in the goal before the goalkeeper had even landed on the turf after diving.

Toure made straight for the Cote d'Ivoire supporters to one side of the pitch in delight, even swiping his team-mate Serge Aurier away as he attempted to grab him to celebrate.

Renard's decision to play Toure in the deeper-lying role may be starting to pay off. Cote d'Ivoire eventually recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory over a side that had fired four past Congo in the quarter-finals, with Gervinho and Wilfried Kanon also on the scoresheet.

Toure has completed more passes – 194 – than any other player in the competition with an overall passing accuracy of 82 per cent. He has been the pivot around which the rest of the Ivorian team has rotated, with no other Elephants player within 60 successful passes of his total.

And though the 31-year-old is starting moves further back, he is still making his presence felt in attacking areas. His 96 completed passes in the opposition half is again the highest of any Cote d'Ivoire star and fifth overall at the tournament.

Toure, Wilfried Bony and the rest of Renard's team will take on Ghana in Sunday's final in Bata following the Black Stars' victory over hosts Equatorial Guinea.