The Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire secured victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by overcoming the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-1 in a thrilling final on Sunday.
In a rematch of their earlier encounter during the group stage, Nigeria initially took the lead with a goal from captain William Troost-Ekong just before halftime. However, Franck Kessie’s equalizer and Haller’s decisive goal in the 81st minute sealed the victory for Cote D’Ivoire, igniting jubilation among their supporters in the stands.
This triumph marks Cote D’Ivoire’s third AFCON title, adding to their previous victories in 1992 and 2015. By achieving this milestone, they join Nigeria with three AFCON triumphs overall.
Despite Nigeria’s strong performance throughout the tournament, led by the exceptional talent of Osimhen, they fell short in the final, missing the chance to match Ghana’s record of four AFCON victories.
Cote D’Ivoire’s historic win also makes them the first host country to claim the AFCON title since 2006.
