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TOPSHOT - Ivory Coast's forward #22 Sebastien Haller celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 final football match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan on February 11, 2024. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Nigeria 1-2 Côte d’Ivoire: Haller roast Eagles to fire host to AFCON title

Review

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Final

Nigeria
Côte d’Ivoire
1 - 2
Final Score
William Troost-Ekong - 1 (38')
Franck Kessié - 1 (62')Sébastien Haller - 1 (81')
Game Statistics
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
0 Shots on Goal 0
0 Saves 0
0 Corner Kick 0
0
Shot Accuracy
0
Pass Accuracy
Fouls
0
Offsides
0
0
Shot Accuracy
0
Pass Accuracy
0
Fouls
0
Offsides
Ball Possession
37%
63%
Game Timeline
KO
KO
5. William Troost-Ekong
38'
23. Stanley Nwabali
53'
17. Serge Aurier
54'
15. Moses Simon
56'
8. Franck Kessié
62'
24. Simon Adingra
62'
14. Oumar Diakité
70'
5. Wilfried Singo
70'
4. Alhassan Yusuf
79'
14. Kelechi Iheanacho
79'
24. Simon Adingra
81'
22. Sébastien Haller
81'
24. Terem Moffi
86'
10. Joe Aribo
86'
6. Seko Fofana
87'
11. Jean-Philippe Krasso
88'
18. Ibrahim Sangaré
88'
2. Ola Aina
90'
21. Evan Ndicka
90+7'
27. Jean Thierry Lazare
90+2'
FT

(Made In Africa Sport) – Côte d’Ivoire claimed their third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, and first on home soil, as they came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final in Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Backed by the expectant home crowd, the hosts made an assured start, as Sébastien Haller, who scored the winning goal in the semi-final against DR Congo, almost got on the end of Simon Adingra’s dangerous cross.

Veteran Max Gradel then produced the acrobatics with an overhead kick that hit the side-netting before Adingra forced a smart save from Stanley Nwabili.

Nigeria were on the back foot, but in the 38th minute, they got the breakthrough against the run of play with their first real chance in the game.

Captain William Troost-Ekong, who scored in the 1-0 win against Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage, climbed highest to power his header home following a corner routine and give the Super Eagles an unlikely half-time lead.

With the majority of the 60,000-strong crowd roaring them on, Côte d’Ivoire pushed for an equaliser early in the second half, as Gradel saw his fierce shot brilliantly blocked by Calvin Bassey after some neat work from Adingra.

Odilon Kossounou then forced a quality save from Nwabili from long range, and from the resulting corner, the Elephants struck back.

Franck Kessié headed in unmarked at the far post for his second goal of the tournament, as the stadium sprung to life after the hour-mark.

With the end of regulation time approaching, Haller almost produced the perfect moment after his battle with cancer to put the hosts in front, but his bicycle kick flew just wide after a nice set-up from Adingra.

However, the striker did not have to wait long for another chance to become his country’s hero, poking home the winner from Adingra’s perfect cross to send the Ivorian fans wild.

Nigeria fought hard but the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder was at the heart of everything good in Côte d’Ivoire’s attack, producing a special performance in his first major international tournament.

After a disastrous group stage that almost saw the Elephants eliminated, it was all worth it for a night that will live long in every Ivorian’s memories.

Results

Team1st Half2nd HalfGoalsPossessionOutcome
Nigeria10137Loss
Côte d’Ivoire02263Win

MAN OF THE MATCH

https://rtwitter.com/CAF_Online/status/1756800668285775954?s=20

MATCH STATISTICS

TEAM SHEETS

Nigeria

23Stanley Nwabali Goalkeeper 53'
21Calvin Bassey Defender
6Semi Ajayi Defender
5William Troost-Ekong Defender 38'
2Ola Aina Defender 90'
3Zaidu Sanusi 10 Defender
8Frank Onyeka 24 Midfielder
17Alex Iwobi 4 Midfielder
9Victor Osimhen Forward
18Ademola Lookman 14 Forward
11Samuel Chukwueze 15 Forward
15Moses Simon 11 Forward
4Alhassan Yusuf 17 Midfielder
14Kelechi Iheanacho 18 Forward
24Terem Moffi 8 Forward
10Joe Aribo 3 Midfielder
  1 2 1 5 18 3 500 3 249 74.3 185 411 15 13 9 103 42 30

Côte d’Ivoire

1Yahia Fofana Goalkeeper
3Ghislain Konan Defender
21Evan Ndicka Defender 90+7'
7Odilon Kossounou Defender
17Serge Aurier 5 Defender 54'
8Franck Kessié Midfielder 62'
4Jean Michaël Seri 27 Midfielder
6Seko Fofana 18 Midfielder 87'
24Simon Adingra Forward 62', 81'
22Sébastien Haller 11 Forward 81'
15Max Gradel 14 Forward
14Oumar Diakité 15 Forward
5Wilfried Singo 17 Defender
11Jean-Philippe Krasso 22 Forward
18Ibrahim Sangaré 6 Midfielder
27Jean Thierry Lazare 4 Midfielder
  2 2 3 8 15 4 16 410 86.6 355 615 29 15 7 103 61 25

 

 

 

 

 

 

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