AFCON 2023 : Sébastien Haller powers Côte d’Ivoire to victory over Nigeria in finals

Cote d’Ivoire staged an impressive comeback to win at the expense of Nigeria at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

The Nigerians’ run to the finals saw them topping a group with 7 points, two wins against, the host and Guinea Bissau, and a draw against Equatorial Guinea. 

READ MORE: Troost- Ekong, Ron Williams, Nsue, Adingra win big at AFCON 2023

They followed up with wins against Cameroon, Angola, and South Africa in the semi-finals to book a date against the host once again, whom they had earlier beaten in the group stages. 

Meanwhile, the host needed a win from Morocco against Zambia to steal themselves back into a competition, they nearly exited the group stages. 

The host defeated defending champions, Senegal and carried on with wins against Mali and DR Congo lifting them to the finals. 

In the finals, William Troost-Ekong shot Nigeria ahead seven minutes before halftime with a stunning header from nine yards out from a corner.

READ MORE: Ivory Coast beat DR Congo to set up final with Nigeria at AFCON 2023

The energetic Franck Kessie pulled his team on level with a thumping header in the 62nd minute of the game. 

Nine minutes to end the match proceedings, the exciting Brighton prospect, Simon Adingra who had his elementary football training at the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana teed up Seb Haller, who cleverly nicked in the second goal to send the home fans into ruptures cheers and jeers.

The host held on to victory, becoming the first country since Egypt in 2006 to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as host nation.

READ MORE: AFCON 2023 : Equatorial Guinea captain, Emilio Nsue wins PUMA Golden Boot award

This win also aids them in basking in their third AFCON triumph since their first and second in, 1992,2015.

For Nigeria, they were looking to win the trophy after their last triumph in 2013.