The elephants of Ivory Coast were able to secure their third Afcon title – thanks to a goal from Borussia Dortmund forward Sebastian Haller.
By Olisa Obi
Ivory Coast has somehow come away with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after some of the wildest of runs you would ever see in the group stage.
Despite losing 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea in the group, sacking manager Jean-Louis Gasset mid-tournament and replacing him with assistant Emerse Fae.
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Squeaking past the now former champions , Senegal, on penalties in the last 16 and grabbing a last-minute equaliser against Mali before edging that quarter-final in extra time, they were able to beat the Super Eagles and win the Afcon title.
Ivory Coast started brightly and created the better first-half chances with Max Gradel and Simon Adingra going close.
It was however the Super Eagles of Nigeria that took the lead when Troost-Ekong nodded in his third goal of the tournament.
The Super Eagles were unbeaten in their previous 22 matches in the competition when scoring first, but the hosts hit back just after the hour mark as Kessie nodded in Adringa’s corner.
Adingra was involved again as the Elephants snatched a dramatic winner in the 81st minute, the Brighton & Hove Albion winger crossing for Haller to prod past Stanley Nwabali at the near post.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria had beaten the now reigning champions Cote D’Ivoire in the group stage, but fumbled when it mattered most.
The Cancer Survivor Turned Hero
Prior to this year, no team who had finished third in the group stage went on to win the Afcon.
But that is no longer a record and one of the players to thank is Sebastian Haller.
Diagnosed with testicular cancer in July 2022 (which he received successful treatment), he grabbed the chance of striking the crucial goal to help his country become the first host nation to lift this trophy since Egypt in 2006.
