African Cup of Nations Champions Ivory Coast, Fate or Luck ?
The biggest African football event has been happening in the last one month and half. AFCON concluded yester-night with the current champions Ivory coast beating the tournament favorites, Nigeria, to lift the trophy. The breathtaking final saw a 2-1 win in favor of Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast AFCON 2023 Champions
FATE OR LUCK ?
To begin with group stages, Ivory Coast won only one game and were beaten twice. They were humiliated by Equatorial Guinea 4 goals to zero. After such a horrible performance the host nation fired their head coach and qualified for the round of 16 as the fourth best third place team.
They played the defending champions Senegal at the round of 16, a game that saw them score a late 86th minute equalizer to force extra time. Ivory Coast then won the match on penalties. A red card in he quarter finals and Ivory Coast played with 10 men from the 43rd minute against Mali. They equalized at the 90th minute and scored the winning goal at the second half of extra time to go through to the semis.
The elephants faced Congo in the semi finals and scored late, at the 65 minute to seal a win.
Read Also: Dr Bawumia: I will abolish betting tax, E-Levy, VAT on electricity, Emissions in Ghana
TO THE FINALS Ivory Coast AFCON 2023 Champions
Sebastien Haller scored a dramatic late winner as Ivory Coast fought back to beat Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria 2-1 to claim their third continental title. Nigeria looked set to repeat their 1-0 victory over the Ivorian’s at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium during the group stage when captain William Troost-Ekong -– who had netted a penalty to decide that first meeting -– rose to head in the opener late in the first half.
However, Franck Kessie equalized just after the hour mark and Haller turned in Simon Adingra’s cross in the 81st minute to spark wild celebrations among the sea of orange in the Abidjan stands. Ivory Coast’s success sees them add this year’s title to those claimed in 1992 and 2015, while this win also allows them to join Nigeria on three Cup of Nations triumphs overall.
