9 months ago
58 Hosts Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire have won the AFCON 2023 after coming from a goal down to beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in Sunday’s final.
Côte d’Ivoire has now claimed their third AFCON title, tying with Nigeria.
The Eagles have lost five of their eight appearances in the AFCON final, winning three.
It was a remarkable comeback story for the Ivorians who only managed to qualify as one of the best third placed team.
The Eagles were second best all through the game as the Ivorians had seven shots on target, six shots off target, bossed the ball possession 67 – 33 per cent, and had five corners.
Prior to Sunday’s final, Côte d’Ivoire had failed to score in their previous four appearances.
That came to an end as Franck Kessie’s equaliser made him the first Ivorian to score in the final of the AFCON.
Despite being on the back foot for most part of the first half it was the Eagles who took the lead on 38 minutes through captain William Troost-Ekong.
The Eagles won a corner which the Ivorians failed to properly clear, which saw Troost-Ekong out jumping his marker to nod the ball into the back of the net.
The Ivorians came back in the second half fired up and got their reward in the 62nd minute as they drew level through Kessie.
The former Barcelona midfielder, who was left unmarked inside the box headed home a cross from Simon Adingra.
In the 81st minute Côte d’Ivoire went 2-1 up as Sebastien Haller slotted home a fine cross from Adingra.
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