The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire clinched the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship by wining against Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 on Sunday.
Nigeria seemed poised to replicate their earlier victory over Ivory Coast in the group stage, where they won 1-0 at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, with captain William Troost-Ekong scoring the opening goal with a header late in the first half, just like he did with a penalty in their previous encounter.
This win marks Ivory Coast’s third AFCON title, adding to their victories in 1992 and 2015 and putting them on par with Nigeria in terms of overall tournament wins. Only Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana have won the title more times, with Nigeria missing the chance to match Ghana’s record of four victories.
Despite Nigeria’s strong performance throughout the competition, led by Osimhen, the reigning African player of the year, Ivory Coast’s determination and belief in their destiny proved strong. Their victory makes them the first host nation to win the AFCON since 2006.
- Tags: AFCON, afcon 2023, Africa, Osimhen, Super Eagles
