Abidjan –
2023 Africa Cup of Nations Final bring together Nigeria vs Ivory Coast. Les Elephants emerged as champions after winning comeback 2-1.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations Final took place on Monday (12/2/2024) at 03.00 WIB in the morning. The match was presented at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, Abidjan.
Both teams fielded their best squad. Interestingly, the two teams also met in the group phase, which Nigeria won 1-0 in Group A.
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Nigeria took the lead in the first half through a goal from William Troost-Ekong. The captain headed the ball from a corner kick in the 38th minute.
Ivory Coast responded in the second half through goals from Kessie and Haller. Ivory Coast emerged victorious and became champions in the highest football competition in Africa!
The course of the match
Ivory Coast take control by striking first. Unfortunately, Haller failed to reach the pass to the front of goal from Adingra.
Ivory Coast dominated possession for 15 minutes of the first half. Nigeria had difficulty penetrating the Ivory Coast penalty box.
Max-Alain Gradel almost broke through Nigeria’s goal in the 21st minute. His overhead shot from a corner kick only hit Guawang’s outer right side.
Hot moment in the 26th minute between Osimhen and Ndicka. Osimhen was annoyed because he claimed Ndicka’s hand had elbowed him in the head several times during the aerial duel, both of them were lucky only to get a warning from the referee.
Golden opportunity for the Elephant! Adingra welcomed the through ball, from a tight angle on the right side of the goal, fired a hard shot but it was parried by Fofana.
Nigeria’s best chance from Sanusi. Koussounou was able to block his left footed shot near the goal and resulted in a corner kick.
Nigeria’s first goal!
From the coner ‘donated’ by Sanusi, Nigeria able to score goals. Captain William Troost-Ekong headed the ball into the top right corner of the goal in the 38th minute.
Nigeria’s first goal (Photo: REUTERS/SIPHIWE SIBEKO)
Ivory Coast try to catch up. But again, many duels occurred in the second line and the first half closed in favor of Nigeria.
Ivory Coast immediately pressed since the second half started. In the 50th minute, Gradel’s shot was blocked by defender Calvin Bassey right in front of the goal.
Gradel was then seen falling under Sanusi’s tackle in the penalty box. The Ivory Coast players claimed a penalty, but the referee did not judge it as a foul.
Jean Seri fired a speculative shot from outside the penalty box in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, the round skin from his kick was still not on target.
Goalkeeper Nwabili continues to be strong. Kessie was able to secure a free-standing header while standing in the right position.
Nwabili is still going strong. Koussounou took a shot from outside the penalty box in the 62nd minute, but he was able to parry it and it resulted in a corner kick.
Ivory Coast’s first goal!
From that angle, it’s a dead end Ivory Coast broken. Franck Kessie successfully headed the ball, bounced it to the ground, and the Eagle’s goal was also broken in the 62nd minute.
Ivory Coast continues to press. Haller almost scored a spectacular goal with his overhead kick in the 74th minute, but unfortunately it was only an off target shot.
Ivory Coast’s second goal!
Ivory Coast comeback, took a 2-1 lead in the 81st minute. Adingra sent a pass in front of the goal and Haller tried to catch it, which Troost-Ekong stuck to. Haller had longer legs to get the ball into the goal.
Haller’s winning shot (Photo: AP/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast were able to maintain their lead until the final whistle sounded despite being attacked repeatedly, with an additional seven minutes of injury time. They won 2-1, becoming champions at home, while adding to their collection of champion titles Africa Cup of Nations so three times.
Lineup
Nigeria: Nwabili, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Sanusi (Aribo 86′), Onyeka (Moffi 86′), Iwobi (Yusuf 79′), Aina, Chukwueze (Simon 56′), Osimhen, Lookman (Iheanacho 79′) .
Goalkeepers: Y Fofana, Aurier (Singo 70′), Koussounou, N’Dicka, Konan, Kessie, Seri, S Fofana (Sangare 88′), Gradel (Diakite 70′), Haller (Krasso 88′) Adingra.
Also see the video ‘2021 African Cup: Mane smiles, Salah is sad’:
(aff/bay)