Africa Cup of Nations Ivory Coast 2-1 Nigeria
2024.02.14
Sebastien Haller scored the winning goal nine minutes from the end as hosts Ivory Coast claimed a third Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria
At the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday, hosts Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final to capture their third Africa Cup of Nations championship. Sebastien Haller scored the game-winning goal nine minutes from the end.
The Ivorians had to overcome two setbacks, including a devastating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea, to advance out of their group. However, they found their form in the knockout stages and won the title with a never-say-die mentality. It was a success created out of adversity.
After rising to meet Samuel Chukwueze’s flick-on from a corner, William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead with a header, but Franck Kessie equalized just after the hour mark after going unmarked at the back post from a set-piece.
To the delight of his rookie coach Emerse Fae, who had begun the tournament as assistant to Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset, who was fired after the pool stage, the Ivorians pulled off another comeback victory when Haller steered Simon Adingra’s cross into the net. The Ivorians had to come back from behind several times during the tournament.
“What got us through was the strength of the group and the mentality. Even though it wasn’t simple, we managed to save ourselves through some difficult times. We restored our opportunities and accomplished what we did today thanks to our mental toughness,” Ivorian man of the match Adingra remarked.
Borussia Dortmund forward Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July 2022 but beat the disease and has been a crucial player for the Ivorians, though he missed the start of the tournament with an ankle injury, playing his first game in the last-16 win over defending champions Senegal.
His story epitomises the fight in the Ivorian side, who became the first home nation to lift the Cup of Nations since Egypt in 2006.
All four of their previous continental finals had finished 0-0, with them winning on penalties in 1992 and 2015, both times against Ghana, and losing the other two.
@charith
