Sunday, February 11
•Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast
Individual Awards:
•Best Player: William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
•Golden Boat: Emilio Nsue Lopez
•Best Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
•Fair-Play: South Africa
In a thrilling finale at the Alassane Ouattara stadium, Ivory Coast secured a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
The atmosphere was electric as 60,000 fans packed the stadium to witness what many are already dubbing the greatest AFCON tournament ever.
In a nail-biting encounter, Ivory Coast found themselves trailing after Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, headed in a corner in the 38th minute.
But Ivory Coast refused to be deterred, and their persistence paid off when Franck Kessié leveled the score in the 62nd minute with a powerful header from Simon Adingra’s perfectly executed corner. The stadium erupted in celebration as Ivory Coast seized momentum.
With time ticking away and the score deadlocked at 1-1, it was Senastien Haller who emerged as the hero for Ivory Coast.
In the 81st minute, he expertly directed Adingra’s cross into the net, completing a remarkable turnaround and sending the home crowd into delirium.
This victory marks Ivory Coast’s third AFCON title, adding to their previous triumphs in 1992 and 2015, both of which were secured via penalty shootouts.
For a team that endured a rocky start to the tournament, including a heavy 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea and the subsequent dismissal of head coach Jean-Louis Gasset, this triumph is nothing short of miraculous.
Assistant coach Emerson Fae, who stepped up as Interim Coach following Gasset’s departure, played a pivotal role in guiding the team to success.
Ivory Coast’s journey to glory was characterized by resilience and determination, as they overcame formidable opponents like Senegal and Mali, the latter victory achieved even with a red card and a late equalizer, followed by an extra-time winner.
As the celebrations continue long into the night across Ivory Coast, fans and players alike will savor this historic triumph, a testament to the team’s unwavering spirit and indomitable will to succeed.
Watch final highlights:
