Ivory Coast secured a famous triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), defeating Nigeria 2-1 in a dramatic final on home soil. The host nation, after a tumultuous tournament, completed a remarkable comeback, sending their supporters into joyous celebrations.
Nigeria took the lead in the first half through William Troost-Ekong's header. However, Franck Kessie equalized for Ivory Coast in the 62nd minute, setting the stage for Sebastien Haller to score the decisive goal with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Haller's Fairytale Finish
It is the moment Sebastien Haller would have been dreaming about 18 months ago, when he was in hospital receiving treatment to remove a testicular tumour. In the 81st minute, the 29-year-old poked home Simon Adingra’s cross and sent the Alassane Ouattara Stadium wild. Haller is Ivory Coast's hero, 18 months after his cancer diagnosis.
Haller nearly missed out on this competition due to an ankle injury. He flew out to Ivory Coast a couple of weeks before the rest of the squad linked up to work on his fitness. The forward missed all of their group-stage games and made his return as a substitute in the last 16 against Senegal.
Ivory Coast’s game plan against Nigeria was centred around launching the ball into the box as much as possible for him to attack. They never did and you can only give Haller so many opportunities before he will punish you.
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Sebastien Haller celebrates his winning goal. Source: Sky Sports
Troost-Ekong's Valiant Effort
Nigeria came into this year’s AFCON boasting an array of attacking talents, but their triumph came down to defensive resilience, with the Super Eagles conceding just twice on their way to the final. Key to this was Troost-Ekong, who as well as being a rock at the back, finishes the tournament with two more goals than Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, and the same number as Nigeria’s other attacking star Ademola Lookman.
Overall, Troost-Ekong has scored five goals at the Africa Cup of Nations, the most by a centre-back in history. Unfortunately for Troost-Ekong and Nigeria though, they couldn’t quite get over the line.
Ivory Coast's Redemption Arc
Their supporters have taken to calling Ivory Coast “les Revenants” - the Zombies. The host country came back from the dead this tournament - repeatedly. On the brink of a humiliating group-stage exit, they sacked coach Jean-Louis Gasset after their final first-round game. Two days earlier, they had lost 4-0 to minnows Equatorial Guinea.
Replacement Emerse Fae had never managed a senior game before, at any level - yet here he was, parachuted into the most high-pressure job on the continent. Nigeria had not lost a game in which they took the lead in their last 19 matches - but Franck Kessie’s header brought Ivory Coast back to parity after 62 minutes.
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Striker Sebastien Haller had returned to the pitch last year after his cancer diagnosis with boots reading “F**k Cancer”. Now, with that same right foot, he delivered AFCON glory. Ivory Coast, the Zombies, back from the dead.
Osimhen's Tireless Battle
Victor Osimhen is a human cyclone. If you are a defender, you cannot avoid him. His arms and legs are after you. He will come at you with his head. Yet any striker is often only as effective as the service he receives. Osimhen had to fight to create his own chances, with Nigeria’s fast wide players feeding off his effort. It ultimately led to him scoring just one goal but without Osimhen’s courage and running, Nigeria would never have made it to the final.
This was a brutal game of football played at the end of the hottest day of the tournament. This did not stop Osimhen. Neither did the scraps he was working with, or the injuries he was suffering from. It was agonising watching him trying to complete the match when it was in his own interests as well as the team’s for him to leave the pitch.
Player of the Match: Simon Adingra
There is no better way to make yourself an instant national hero than a match-winning performance in the final of a major tournament. That is exactly what Simon Adingra has done in that final. He was absolutely sublime throughout the match and I'm sure Ola Aina will be having nightmares about him for the next few weeks and months.
The Brighton winger gave him a torrid time and, on top of beating Aina every time he had the ball, his quality brought the two goals. His pinpoint corner was headed in by Kessie in the 62nd minute and it was Adingra's cross that Haller flicked into the top corner 19 minutes later. Jean Michael Seri deserves a special mention as he was superb in midfield, but he is edged out for the Player of the Match award by Adingra.
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Key Absences for Nigeria
For me, the most stark observation from that game was the complete lack of a midfield presence from Nigeria. It might have been a different story had Wilfred Ndidi, one of the first names on the teamsheet when fit, been available. But an injury suffered on December 29 ruled him out of AFCON.
Likewise, Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi, two strikers who have been in excellent form for Bayer Leverkusen and Nottingham Forest respectively. While they may not have started ahead of Osimhen, it would allowed Peseiro the chance to rotate the Napoli striker who was a mile off his best throughout the tournament.
Player Ratings
Nigeria
- Stanley Nwabali: 6
- Semi Ajayi: 6
- William Troost-Ekong: 7
- Calvin Bassey: 6
- Ola Aina: 4
- Frank Onyeka: 5
- Alex Iwobi: 5
- Zaidu Sanusi: 4
- Samuel Chukwueze: 4
- Victor Osimhen: 5
- Ademola Lookman: 5
Ivory Coast
- Yahia Fofana: 6
- Serge Aurier: 6
- Odilon Kossounou: 8
- Evan N’Dicka: 8
- Ghislain Konan: 7
- Jean Michael Seri: 9
- Franck Kessie: 8
- Seko Fofana: 6
- Maxi Gradel: 5
- Sebastian Haller: 8
- Simon Adingra: 9
Ivory Coast Clinches AFCON 2024 Victory! 🏆🇨🇮 | Celebrating the Triumph and Legacy
Moment of the Match: Haller's Winning Goal
A burst of joy and jubilation inside Alassane Ouattara Stadium and it was a goal worthy of winning any tournament. Adingra flew past Aina on the left wing, as he did all night, and sent a wicked cross into the Nigeria penalty area. Haller stole a march on Troost-Ekong but the ball met him at an awkward height, how would he possibly divert it towards goal?
Somehow, he stretched his leg and got his front four studs onto the ball and diverted it perfectly into the top corner. What a story, the striker who was receiving treatment for testicular cancer 18 months ago scoring the winning goal at AFCON in front of a stadium full of his own supporters! You couldn't write it.
Ivory Coast celebrates their victory. Source: The Guardian
The home supporters applaud their heroes as they make their way through the guard of honour and up to the stage to receive their winners medals.
AFCON Title Count
Egypt still leads with seven titles, followed by Cameroon and Ghana with five and four, respectively. Today's triumph lifts Ivory Coast to level with Nigeria with three tournament wins.
| Rank | Country | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 7 |
| 2 | Cameroon | 5 |
| 3 | Ghana | 4 |
| 4 | Ivory Coast | 3 |
| 5 | Nigeria | 3 |
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