2024 African Cup Final: Nigeria – Ivory Coast
For the third time (after 1992 and 2015), Ivory Coast wins the African Cup. The host country beat Nigeria 1-2 in the final after the comeback. Ivory Coast won deservedly. Simon Adingra was the leader with two assists, and Sebastien Haller was the match-winner with a late winner.
Objectives:
38' Troost Ekong: 1-0
62' Casey: 1-1
81' Haller 1-2
Nigeria – Ivory Coast in brief:
- Key moment: Ivory Coast were dominant throughout the match and in the 81st minute they finally took the lead. Adingra conjured a second assist, and Haller was the scorer on duty. 1-2 for the host country and will not give up that lead.
- Man of the match: First, the former Al-Ittihad man was the signal for Kessie's equalizer from a corner kick, and 20 minutes later he did the trick again to score Haller's winner. Simon Adingra has been a scourge on the Nigerian defence.
- statistics: More than 60% possession of the ball, 18 shots, including 8 between the goal posts and only one inside the frame for Nigeria. It is clear that the African Cup is due to Ivory Coast.
Nigeria is at the top…
Three weeks after their group stage meeting, Nigeria and Ivory Coast met again in the Africa Cup of Nations, this time in the final.
The world seemed completely different since then for the host country, which fired its coach after completing the group stage, and was lucky to remain in the first third of the tournament.
With the former assistant coach at the helm, Ivory Coast achieved its second match of this tournament against Nigeria thanks to the necessary miracles.
In a very tense first half hour we saw a lot of mistakes, especially on the part of favorites Nigeria. the Cooling break After 30 minutes, he was greeted literally and figuratively, clearly designed for fresher heads.
Simon Adingra (formerly Al-Ittihad) created the first big chance in the match with a shot past Nigerian goalkeeper Nwabali. It would be another former player from the Belgian league who scored the goal a few minutes later.
Troost-Ekong, who played for KAA Gent in the distant past, rose to the highest level from a corner kick and, as captain of his country, headed home a 1-0 goal on the board. The first opportunity immediately went to Nigeria.
Ivory Coast had the initiative going for their own with more possession – and some neat chances here and there – and they continued to do so after that strike.
Nigeria can celebrate after Troost Ekong's goal.
But Ivory Coast is coming back strong
Under Adingra's increasingly energetic momentum, Ivory Coast has continued to grow. It was no coincidence that his corner led to a goal.
Casey scored the equalizer with his second headed goal of the evening and sent the Elephants back into the final.
And about that? It seemed that Sebastien Haller had succeeded in achieving the goal fifteen minutes before the end with a wonderful shot that went over the goal.
Well, 5 minutes later it was the prize. Once again with the help of Adingra, the same Haller gave Ivory Coast the lead with a real striker's goal. Deafening chants rose from the stands in Abidjan.
Nigeria had no ready response at the end of the match and had to bow its head in defeat after the strong turnaround of its national team.
A miracle with God's help? That may be possible, but it is certainly a well-deserved Africa Cup of Nations after a dominant final. Third in the history of Ivory Coast, in addition to Adingra, there are many old acquaintances of the first rank in our ranks.
Lazar returns to Union with a gold medal in his pocket, and Kosono (ex-FC Brugge), Bamba (ex-STVV) and Kouame (ex-Anderlecht) also ring a bell among Belgian football followers.
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