The delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match ended on Sunday evening with host Cote d’Ivoire finishing their outstanding turnaround in fortune by turning into the primary host nation to win the title in 18 years with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles.
The extremely tense ultimate on the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, within the outskirts of Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s financial capital, the identical venue the place Nigeria earlier defeated the match hosts 1-0 through the group stage, started with the host dominating possession however whilst as Nigerians struggled to regulate the ball in their very own half, seized the chance with their preliminary vital shot and following {a partially} cleared nook, William Troost-Ekong rose to ship a commanding header into the purpose to the Eagles first half lead.
After the break, as Nigeria had been hoping to maintain their lead, Frank Kessie restored parity as the gang roared from the Italy-based participant’s header from the nook earlier than Sebastian Haller put the house facet within the lead after connecting Simon Agingra’s cross. Nice mixture to elevate the roof of the stadium in Abidjan.
The Elephants are the primary host nation to win an AFCON title since 2006 when Egypt defeated the Ivorians on penalties in Cairo to take the continental trophy.
They practically turned simply the second host nation in 30 years to exit within the group stage after a disastrous 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on January 22, their heaviest ever house defeat.
The shellshocked Ivorians parted firm with coach Jean-Louis Gasset, all hope of reaching the final 16 stage apparently gone, earlier than being rescued as a collection of beneficial outcomes elsewhere allowed them to undergo among the many greatest third-placed sides.
Beneath the interim Coach Emerse Fae, their revival has been fairly unbelievable, eliminating defending champions Senegal on penalties in capital Yamoussoukro within the final 16 earlier than coming from behind – regardless of being decreased to 10 males – to beat Mali 2-1 within the quarter-finals.
They then returned to Ebimpe to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo within the semis, due to a solitary Sebastien Haller’s strike to set the ultimate conflict towards the Eagles.
The Ivorians have now matched Nigeria on three titles after rising victorious on the 2023 Cup of Nations for the primary time since 2015.
