ANKARA – Ivory Coast won the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) yesterday after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
Nigeria’s skipper William Troost-Ekong gave his team the lead with a well-executed header seven minutes before halftime at Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Anadolu Agency reported.
Nigerian goalie Stanley Nwabali and Ivory Coast captain Serge Aurier were both shown yellow cards in the 53rd minute after an argument.
Nwabali made several critical saves to prevent Ivory Coast from equalising. But despite his best efforts, Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie’s bouncing header from the centre of the box following a corner equalised the score in the 62nd minute.
Ivorian attacker Sebastien Haller’s spectacular bicycle kick missed Nigeria’s goal by inches in the 74th minute.
Haller then scored and completed Ivory Coast’s comeback with a lethal tap to Simon Adingra’s cross from close range in the 81st minute.
Ivory Coast clinched their third Afcon trophy after 1992 and 2015. – February 12, 2024