The hosts came from
behind with Sebastian Haller stabbing in the winner in the 81st minute.
Côte
d’Ivoire delivered a fairy tale ending to the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations
with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Nigeria at home at the Alassane
Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
The
hosts scored two second-half goals to overcome the Super Eagles and capture
their third AFCON title, adding to the continental victories in 1992 and 2015.
Côte d’Ivoire tasted sweet revenge after their 1-0 defeat to the Nigerians in
the group stages of the tournament.
The Ivoirians
navigated a treacherous path towards the final, including a change in head
coach following their 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in their final
group-stage match. The Ivory Coast sacked head coach Jean-Louis Gasset and
replaced him with former midfielder Emerse Fae before they advanced to the last
16.
Fae
shepherded the Elephants into the final following a 1-0 victory over the
Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-final.
Nigeria
came into the contest as the favorites despite Côte d’Ivoire enjoying the
home-ground advantage.
The
game started with a series of set pieces for Cote d’Ivoire.
They
spent the first 30 minutes sending in crosses that were comfortably repelled.
The
cooling break at 30 minutes was not just necessary because of the humidity but
also because nerves were getting frayed and tempers rising.
The Ivoirians
came out sharper out of the blocks, forcing a save out of Stanley Nwabali.
The
hosts called the shots and made persistent assaults on the Nigerian goal.
But the
Ivoirians could not capitalize on all the possession they enjoyed in the first
half of the match.
Nigeria
soaked up pressure, with only 37% of possession until William Troost-Ekong
scored with a towering header off a corner kick in the 38th minute.
Troost-Ekong
found some air in the box, out jumping the Ivorian defenders to head the ball
into the back of the net.
The
goal lulled the stadium into silence as the hosts went into the half-time break
trailing the Nigerians 1-0.
Cote d’Ivoire scored off a corner of their
own in the 62nd minute after Frank Kessie beat Nwabali on his near post from a
free header to reignite their hopes of a dream home victory.
The Elephants landed the knockout blow nine minutes from time courtesy of a
Sebastien Haller goal. Haller hoofed a cross from Simon Adinga into the back of
the net to bring the crowd to their feet.
Nigeria
threatened to enforce the stalemate, but the Ivorian defence held firm to deny
the Super Eagles a fourth AFCON crown. Instead, Ivory Coast completed a
magnificent comeback to bow out as African champions for the third time.
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