For the second time in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are set to clash–this time with higher stakes. Both Group A survivors will have a go at each other to decide who will be crowned champions of Africa at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Sunday, February 11, 2024.
The AFCON 2023 final between these West African giants who have five AFCON trophies between them (Côte d’Ivoire with 2 and Nigeria with 3) is projected to be a game of retribution for the Elephants who narrowly lost to the Super Eagles in the group stage, while the three-time African champions will be looking to win their fourth AFCON trophy in their eighth final.
Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire’s progression into the AFCON 2023 final
The Super Eagles earned a draw and two wins in the group stage of the competition, scoring just three goals. A 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea and 1-0 victories over hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau guaranteed the three-time African Champions qualification to the knockout stage as second behind Equatorial Guinea.
Consequently, Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the round of 16, after which they ousted Angola 1-0 in the quarter-final to secure a mouthwatering semi-final clash against South Africa. True to the rivalry between both countries, the match witnessed a high level of intensity and had to be decided by a penalty shootout which Nigeria won 4-2, thanks to Stanley Nwabali’s heroics.
For Côte d’Ivoire, their qualification into the round of 16 ranks high among the list of the dramatic happenings we’ve witnessed in this year’s AFCON so far. After grinding out a comfortable 2-0 over Guinea-Bissau in the curtain raiser, the hosts lost their remaining two group-stage matches to Nigeria (0- 1) and Equatorial Guinea (0-4).
The humiliation quickened the hands of the Ivorian Football Federation to replace manager Jean-Louis Gasset with Emerse Fae even before their qualification into the round of 16 as the best losers of the competition was confirmed.
Home support and the new manager’s bounce added to the Elephants’ impetus as they navigated their way past a formidable Senegal squad vying for consecutive titles, and despite playing the entire second half and an extra 30 minutes with only 10 players, they secured victory over Mali in the quarter-finals.
Sebastian Haller’s second-half strike against The Democratic Republic of Congo put the Elephants within touching distance of their third AFCON title, but not without tough opposition from Nigeria.
Nigeria vs Côte d’Ivoire head-to-head
Sunday’s final will be the eighth time both sides are meeting in an AFCON. The Super Eagles now have three wins in all, after their win in the group stage, while the Elephants have two
Team news
Bar doubtful Zaidu Sanusi who picked up an injury before the semi-final game against South Africa, Jose Peseiro’s Nigeria will be heading into this clash with a clean slate of injuries and no suspended player.
Emerse Fae on the other hand will have the luxury to select from a full squad after the return of Serge Aurier, Odilon Kossounou and Oumar Diakite from suspension.
What to expect
Knowing full well that the finals of any major tournament are mostly unpredictable, we expect a close game, with neither side willing to take on too many risks at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Sunday night.Home advantage and physicality are the Elephants’ core strengths going into the game, while the Super Eagles will be counting on their solid defence and better attacking options to be the difference against the hosts.
Leave a comment