By: Usman Toheeb
The curtain came down on the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tonight, showcasing a thrilling finale between two Group A teams, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. The host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, made a narrow advance to the final alongside their group counterpart, Nigeria, a team few would have predicted to reach this stage, especially after finishing third in Group A.
The final match kicked off at 21:00 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. During the first half, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire dominated in attempts, with 9 shots on goal but failed to score. In contrast, the Super Eagles of Nigeria made 2 attempts, with Troost Ekong breaking the deadlock at the 38th minute, securing a 1-0 lead for Nigeria by halftime.
Despite the score, Cote d’Ivoire dominated possession in the first half, holding 66% compared to Nigeria’s 34%. Remarkably, the first half concluded without any yellow cards issued.
After a 15-minute intermission, the second half commenced. Franck Kessie found the net for Cote d’Ivoire in the 62nd minute, leveling the score. Later, Sebastien Haller scored at the 81st minute, giving Cote d’Ivoire a 2-1 lead. The Elephants maintained superior possession throughout the second half as well, with 64% compared to Nigeria’s 36%.
In the end, Cote d’Ivoire emerged victorious, clinching the AFCON 2023 title.
