Feb 11, 2024 at 10:59 PM Update: 8 hours ago
Sébastien Haller gave host country Ivory Coast the final victory in the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday in Abidjan. The former Ajax player scored the winning goal in the final once morest Nigeria: 2-1.
Born in Haarlem, William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead seven minutes before half-time. After more than an hour of play, Franck Kessié scored the equalizer.
Nine minutes before the end, Haller made it 2-1. Ivory Coast did not relinquish victory and thus conquered the African Cup of Nations for the third time.
Ivory Coast previously won the Africa Cup in 1992 and 2015. Nigeria missed out on fourth overall victory at the country tournament. The ‘Super Eagles’ triumphed in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
It is remarkable that Ivory Coast had fired national coach Jean-Louis Gasset in the group stage. He had to leave following the 4-0 defeat of ‘De Olifanten’ once morest Equatorial Guinea. The Ivorians were on the brink of elimination, but still qualified for the knockout phase.
Most final victories at the African Cup of Nations
- 1. Egypt – 7 final victories
- 2. Cameroon – 5 final victories
- 3. Ghana – 4 eindzeges
- 4. Nigeria and Ivory Coast – 3 final victories
- 6. Algeria and Republic of Congo – 2 final victories
- 8. Ethiopia, Congo, Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan
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Haller scores the winning goal for Ivory Coast in the African Cup final
Troost-Ekong gives Nigeria the lead
Ivory Coast was the better team in the first half, although it only created the first big chance following more than half an hour. After a mistake by former Ajax player Calvin Bassey, Simon Adingra was able to take a shot moments later, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili.
On the other hand, Nigeria was successful a little later. Troost-Ekong, who played for FC Groningen and FC Dordrecht in the past, headed home following a corner kick.
In the second half, Ivory Coast went hunting for the equalizer. Max Gradel came close shortly following the break, but his shot was saved by Bassey. A little later, the Ivorians leveled through Kessié, who headed home from a corner.
Ivory Coast then continued to make the play and looked for the winning goal. That followed nine minutes before time. Haller worked Adingra’s cross into the goal with a clever movement and gave his country the overall victory.
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Born in Haarlemmer Troost-Ekong scores in the African Cup final for Nigeria
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Beeld: Getty Images
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