In what might be remembered as an all-time AFCON traditional on Sunday evening, the Ivory Coast had been topped African champions for a 3rd time following a 2-1 victory in Abidjan.
Nonetheless, whereas the Elephants may need been backed by an emotional dwelling help of 60,000 followers within the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, it was Nigeria who took a first-half lead as William Troost-Ekong powered dwelling.
With the Tremendous Eagles placing in a gritty efficiency previous to the half-time break, this month’s dwelling nation appeared set for a irritating evening in entrance of their very own supporters.
Nonetheless, banging on the door and inflicting Nigeria a string of issues, the Ivory Coast remaining bought their reward as ex-Barcelona star Franck Kessie bagged his second knockout stage strike simply after the hour mark.
In an emotionally charged showdown on Sunday, it was Borussia Dortmund’s Sebastian Haller who wrote himself into the AFCON historical past books and accomplished what has been a outstanding return from his most cancers analysis again in July 2022.
Producing a elegant flicked end on the close to publish and handing the Elephants a primary Africa Cup of Nations trophy since 2015, we have now taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors from Abidjan.
The Elephants full an astonishing comeback
Signing off their Group C nightmare on January twenty second with a woeful 4-0 drumming by the hands of Equatorial Guinea, the Ivory Coast actually discovered themselves on the coronary heart of a public disaster.
Shockingly parting methods with Jean-Louis Gasset earlier than it was confirmed that that they had snuck their option to a knockout stage ticket, the Elephants’ dwelling event has been nothing in need of a rollercoaster.
Turning to interim boss Emerse Fae in an try and regular their quickly sinking ship, the one-time Studying midfielder has masterminded a well-known comeback and it virtually appears inevitable that Fae might be handed a profitable everlasting deal.
Putting in renewed perception after inheriting a facet which got a second life as one of many 4 best-ranked third-placed sides, Fae has written himself into folklore.
Coming underneath an enormous quantity of scrutiny final month and met with a livid backlash from throughout the nation, there isn’t a doubt that the Ivory Coast’s astonishing turnaround might be remembered as one of many AFCON’s most iconic revivals.
Nigeria miss out on a golden alternative
Watching the likes of World Cup semi-finalists Morocco fall by the wayside final month, many in Nigeria’s camp had been quietly assured that they had been inching in direction of their very own piece of AFCON historical past.
Producing a nail-biting penalties victory towards bronze medalists South Africa final week, the Tremendous Eagles had been unbeaten in all of their six appearances heading into Sunday’s showdown in Abidjan.
Nonetheless, taking a first-half lead right here and sat firmly within the driving seat, Jose Peseiro’s camp will take a while to recuperate from what was an notorious AFCON collapse.
Coming back from the half-time break simply 45 minutes away from getting their palms on a primary African crown since 2013, there’ll unsurprisingly be some query marks over Peseiro’s place.
With Napoli celebrity Victor Osimhen remarkably failing to muster a single AFCON strike in any of his seven appearances over the previous month, Nigeria clearly struggled to regulate to the vocal dwelling help on Sunday evening.
Haller tops off a outstanding story
Closely linked with a possible Deadline Day transfer to Premier League outfit Fulham, few would have anticipated Haller to play such a number one position over the previous week.
Not that includes in any of the Ivory Coast’s three group stage showdowns final month and struggling together with his health, the previous West Ham striker has marked his return with an emphatic bang.
Bagging what was an emotional semi-final winner towards D.R. Congo on February seventh, it virtually appeared inevitable that the 29-year-old would full his emotional fairytale on Sunday evening.
Recognized with testicular most cancers again in July 2022 and recovering for seven months on the sidelines, Haller will definitely be the poster boy of the Elephants’ AFCON triumph right here.
Solely returning to skilled soccer with German giants Borussia Dortmund 12 months in the past, the Ivory Coast have justified their choice to omit their attacking talisman from all of their three Group C appearances.
Match Report
Nigeria: Nwabali, Ajayi, Toost-Ekong, Bassey, Aina, Onyeka, Iwobi, Zaidu, Chukwueze, Lookman, Osimhen
Subs: Aribo, Iheanacho, Moffi, Simon, Yusuf
Ivory Coast: Y. Fofana, Aurier, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan, S. Fofana, Seri, Kessie, Gradel, Haller, Adingra
Subs: Singo, Sangare, Krasso, Diakite, Amani
Targets: Nigeria: Troost-Ekong (38’) – Ivory Coast: Kessie (62’), Haller (81’)
Yellow Playing cards: Nigeria: Nwabali, Aina – Ivory Coast: S. Fofana, Aurier
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Dahane Beida
