The Nigerian Super Eagles fail to soar past Ivory Coast at yesterday’s final match of the AFCON 2023, at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
The much-anticipated clash ended 1-2 in favour of the host country at 97 minutes of the game.
Despite coach Jose Peseiro deploying the same first eleven that defeated the Ivorians in the group stages, the Super Eagles failed to repeat what they did in the group stage.
It was the Super Eagles who led at halftime, despite appearing second-best through the first half-hour. Captain William Troost-Ekong, who scored from the penalty spot in the semifinal win over South Africa, put Nigeria in front in the 38th minute with a header off a corner. It was his third goal of the tournament.
Sebastian Haller was the hero as Ivory Coast came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 and claim their third Africa Cup of Nations title.
The host nation delighted their fans in Abidjan with Haller completing a wonderful turnaround as he volleyed home the winner nine minutes from the time Franck Kessie cancelled out William Troost-Ekong’s first-half header.
Ivory Coast started brightly and created better first-half chances with Max Gradel and Simon Adingra going close to scoring.
The Eagles of Nigeria threw everything at the Elephants in the closing stage, but the home team stood firm to lift their third-ever AFCON trophy.
The Eagles were unbeaten in their previous 22 matches in the competition when scoring first, but the host 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.
