Luanda - Côte d'Ivoire won the third Cup of Nations in football (CAN`2023) on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final at the Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Abidjan.
This was an unprecedented final between these two West African teams, as the hosts (Côte d'Ivoire) had already won the title in 1992 and 2015.
Côte d'Ivoire is an unlikely champion, given the difficulties they have faced throughout this 34th edition of the Cup of Nations, where they came close to being disqualified in a play-off between the three best third-placed teams.
As has usually been the case, the hosts have always started matches on the back foot and then turned things around, and today it was exactly the same.
The Super Eagles opened the scoring in the first half when William Troost-Ekong headed the ball into the back of the net in the 38th minute.
The Elephants equalised in the second half when Franck Kessié headed in at the far post from Simon Adingra's cross (62`), and then went in front when Sebastien Haller deflected in Adingra's cross (81`).
By opening the scoring, Nigeria looked set to repeat their 1-0 win over the same opponents in group A of the first round, with a goal also from captain William Troost-Ekong.
Led by the reigning African Player of the Year, Osimhen, the Nigerians failed to justify their favouritism on the back of three titles already won: 1980, 1994 and 2013.
But Côte d'Ivoire were simply too strong and became the first host country to win the AFCON since 2006. MC/DAN/DOJ
