LIBREVILLE, Gabon - Ghana and Ivory Coast are each a game away from playing in an Africa Cup of Nations dream final, 20 years after they met for the first time in the decider.

Back in 1992, the two teams were separated only when Anthony Baffoe missed Ghana's 12th kick in a penalty shoot-out.

But before a rematch can take place, Ghana has to beat Zambia in Wednesday's semifinal in the Equatorial Guinean town of Bata, while Ivory Coast takes on Mali.

Ghana's Black Stars admitted after their 2-1 extra time victory over Tunisia that they were lucky to have progressed, and midfielder Sulley Muntari warned that his side should not underestimate Zambia, who comfortably beat Sudan 3-0 in their quarterfinal.

"It's going to be a very difficult game," the Inter Milan player said. "No one expected Zambia to go that far. They are not just lucky to be in the semifinals, they play very good football."

Zambian coach Herve Renard, who has not shied away from difficult decisions during the competition, like sending home midfielder Clifford Mulenga for breaking the curfew, said the team was ready to take on any side.

"It was always our ambition before the start of the tournament to get to the semifinals of this competition, but now we want to go further," Renard said.

The last time the Chipolopolo reached the final was in 1994, when a new-look team formed after virtually the entire squad was killed in a plane crash less than a year earlier.

The plane crashed into the sea just 500m from the Gabonese capital of Libreville, where the final of this year's competition will be played on Sunday.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, go into their semifinal against Mali as the clear favorites in what has so far been a smooth passage through the tournament. They are the only team with four victories out of four and have yet to concede a goal. In the quarterfinals they had no problems in ending co-hosts Equatorial Guinea's dream run with a 3-0 win.

Ivorian coach Francois Zahoui can call on a host of top-class players like Premier League stars Didier Drogba and the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya.

Kolo Toure says he hopes that after making three semifinals in the last four editions of the competition, his team would finally be able to win the tournament for the second time.

"It would be great to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament, for me and Yaya to win the African Nations together," the Manchester City defender said.

Mali won its quarterfinal on penalties against co-hosts Gabon, and is showing huge respect for the Elephants, with coach Alain Giresse naming them "the Brazil of Africa."

Giresse paid a tribute to influential midfielder Seydou Keita, who scored Mali's final spot kick in the Eagles' 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory against Gabon in the quarterfinals.

Giresse said that even though Keita isn't the captain of the side, he's still the leader.

"His involvement is the same as with Barcelona. He is willing to defend and he is here as a leader," the former French international said.

"This even means that he at times goes beyond what is his nature. He is very heavily involved, and for a coach it is important that you have players like him who behave as true leaders in all respects."

Giresse, who took over Mali in 2010, said he supported Keita's plea for peace in northern Mali that the player made at the press conference after the win against Gabon.

"As a coach, you have to be very aware of what your players feel, and when Seydou spoke about the problems facing Mali, he was doing this for the whole team.

"I think he was right in doing what he did, and it would be wonderful if football teams could change things, but as they can't, it is right that they call on those who can change."

Mali will be playing its fourth semifinals and hopes to go to the final for the first time.

"By reaching the quarterfinals we have already achieved our initial goal. But now, of course, we would like to go further. If we did not attempt that, we would regret it very much later," said Giresse.

"If we went into the game believing that Ivory Coast is simply too strong for us, we would have no chance, so we must not lose sight that our game against them could lead to more.

"I do not regard this match as a bonus. I see it as the possibility of something great."