Hosts Ivory Coast beat Victor Osimhen 2-1 in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final thanks to Sebastien Haller’s dramatic last-minute winner ) led the Nigeria team and won the African Cup for the third time, completing the most eye-catching comeback in major events.
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In the group stage, Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, with captain William Troost-Ekong scoring a penalty kick in the opening game. Nigeria looked set for a repeat of their 1-0 win over Ivory Coast at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium following a late header. in the first half.
However, Franck Kessie equalized just after the hour and Haller’s 81st-minute cross from Simon Adingra sparked a sea of orange in the Abidjan stands. Crazy celebrations.
Ivory Coast’s success sees them add this year’s title to their wins in 1992 and 2015, and the win also sees them join Nigeria in winning the Cup of Nations for the third time.
France 24’s James Vasina reported from Abidjan
![Ivory Coast forward Sebastien Haller looks at the African Cup of Nations trophy after Côte d'Ivoire won the 2024 African Cup of Nations (CAN) final football match on February 11, 2024.](https://s.france24.com/media/display/620cf03c-c93c-11ee-8ad9-005056bf30b7/w:980/p:16x9/Haller%20champion%20ok.jpg)
Only Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana have won the title more often, with the Super Eagles squandering four chances to win against their Ghanaian rivals.
Led by African Player of the Year Osimhen, Nigeria looked the strongest team in the competition last month.
But Côte d’Ivoire’s sense of destiny was so strong that they became the first host country to win the African Cup of Nations since 2006.
Didier Drogba, whose Elephants lost on penalties to Egypt in the Cairo final 18 years ago, was among the crowd to witness his country’s stunning victory.
come back from the edge
It’s an incredible achievement for a team that was on the brink of elimination in the group stage after losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea on January 22.
It was their heaviest ever home defeat and the Ivorians subsequently parted ways with coach Jean-Louis Gasset, replacing him with Drogba’s 2006 team-mate Aimers Fee.
They then began a stunning comeback, knocking out defending champions Senegal on penalties, beating Mali with a last-gasp goal in extra time and beating Haller in the last four games. of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Their supporters packed the 60,000-capacity stadium, with many fans having to watch the game from vantage points on the stairs.
Anyone trying to dampen the excitement might point out that Nations Cup finals tend to be low-scoring games.
Only 10 goals have been scored in the past 11 finals, five of which were decided on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
In fact, Côte d’Ivoire’s four previous appearances in the finals ended in goalless draws before the penalty shootout, winning both of them.
This looks to be another tight, low-scoring game with few chances early on.
However, the home side had a great chance in the 34th minute when Kessie found Adingla on the left and his shot was blocked by Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
That proved crucial and Nigeria took the lead after just four minutes when Ademola Lookman’s corner from the left was touched and Troost-Ekong converted Headed in from the edge of the six-yard area.
Earlier in the game, the Ivorians might have collapsed in the situation, but they deserve credit for regrouping at half-time and giving Nigeria their all.
Five minutes after the restart, Max-Alain Gradel’s shot from the net was blocked by Calvin Bassey, before Nwabali curled Odilon Kosonu’s long-range piledriver around the post in the 62nd minute.
They equalized from a corner before Kessie appeared at the back post to head home – his last-gasp penalty against Senegal in the last 16 having saved the home side.
Ivory Coast’s second goal seemed inevitable nine minutes into the 90th when Haller received a cross from Adingla and fired the ball into the far corner.
Nigeria, who fell behind for the first time since their opening match, were unable to react and Ivory Coast went on to win.
(AFP)