Ivory Coast claims AFCON 2023 title, emerging as champions in thrilling final showdown.
In the highly anticipated AFCON 2023 final featuring two traditional African football powerhouses that have faced challenges in recent years, it was the hosts who ultimately emerged victorious in a dramatic fashion.
Sebastien Haller, who bravely battled testicular cancer 18 months prior, became the hero by scoring the winning goal for Ivory Coast in the 81st minute. This comeback victory secured the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) title for Ivory Coast with a 2-1 triumph over Nigeria in Abidjan.
Initially, it was the Super Eagles who took the lead at halftime, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, despite being outplayed for much of the first half-hour. However, Ivory Coast quickly responded as Franck Kessie headed in a corner past the hour mark to level the score. Haller’s decisive goal, with less than 10 minutes remaining, sealed the victory for the Elephants.
Both teams had reached the final stage through late-game heroics, so it was fitting that the match was decided in the final moments. Despite conceding just two goals in the entire tournament up to that point, Nigeria succumbed to the relentless pressure from Ivory Coast throughout the 90 minutes.
Ivory Coast’s triumph is remarkable, considering they barely made it to the knockout stage as the last team to qualify, even undergoing a coaching change in the process. Interim coach Emerse Fae took charge and guided the team through an improbable journey to ultimately claim the trophy.
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