AFCON 2023 Final: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast Kick-off Time, Preview, H2H, Betting Offers
After weeks of enthralling action and ceaseless drama, the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is upon us. What began with 24 hopeful teams vying for glory now comes to a head with just two contenders left.
The 2023 AFCON has been dubbed “the underdog tournament” for the incredible twists, upsets and giant-killing.
Yet for all that, it will be two former champions, Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast, contesting the final on Sunday, February 11, 2024.
Nigeria have lifted the trophy three times, in 1980, 1994 and 2013, while Ivory Coast triumphed in 1992 and 2015.
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₦20m: Ultimate AFCON JackpotHere’s everything you need to know about the AFCON 2023 final, which is a repeat of their Group A clash when William Troost-Ekong’s penalty settled the game for Nigeria.
Road to AFCON 2023 Final: Nigeria
The Super Eagles were not among the leading contenders for the trophy before the finals after dropping points to Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their opening two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Their only friendly before heading to Abidjan ended in a 2-0 defeat to Guinea. Injuries to key players like Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar and Wilfred Ndidi further dampened expectations.
Arriving in Abidjan, expectations were low, despite the Nigeria Football Federation’s “do it again” slogan.
An uninspiring 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in their opening game did little to change perceptions. However, Jose Peseiro’s team rallied to beat hosts Ivory Coast through Williams Troost-Ekong’s penalty. Another narrow win against Guinea-Bissau secured second place in Group A behind surprise package Equatorial Guinea.
Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman then led the charge, scoring a brace against Cameroon and the winner versus Angola, setting up a thrilling semi-final with South Africa.
The semi-final, a repeat of their clash at this same stage in 2000, was a rollercoaster.
Nigeria led through Ekong’s second-half penalty, the first goal Bafana Bafana had conceded in five games. Osimhen thought he’d sealed the win with five minutes to go – but in a dramatic twist, Bafana Bafana were awarded a penalty for a foul in the build-up to that goal following a Video Assistant Referee review, allowing Teboho Mokoena to equalise in the 90th-minute. Khuliso Mudau almost won it for South Africa at the death before a nervy 30 minutes of extra time.
South Africa’s penalty-saving hero, Ronwen Williams, who stopped a record four kicks in the previous round against Cape Verde, could not repeat his magic against Nigeria. Instead, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili, made two crucial saves to secure a 4-2 victory and a place in the final for the Super Eagles – their first since lifting the trophy on South African soil in 2013.
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Nigeria’s run to the AFCON 2023 final carries historical echoes. In 1994 and 2000, with the reigning African Player of the Year (Rashidi Yekini and Nwankwo Kanu, respectively), Nigeria reached the final, winning in 1994. Now, with Osimhen holding the title, the trend continues.
Another positive omen: Nigeria has always won the AFCON when avoiding defeat to Ivory Coast in the group or knockout stages (1980, 1994, 2013). Having already beaten the Elephants this year, the Eagles hope this trend holds.
However, their last final on Ivorian soil in 1984 ended in a disappointing defeat to Cameroon. The Super Eagles will undoubtedly hope for a different outcome this time.
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100% Welcome Bonus Up to ₦50.0002023 AFCON: Nigeria Results
14/01 Group A: Nigeria 1-1 Equatorial Guinea, (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
18/01 Group A: Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria, (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
22/01 Group A: Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria, (Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
27/01 Second Round: Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon, (Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
02/02 QF: Nigeria 1-0 Angola, (Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
07/01 SF: Nigeria 1-1 South Africa (aet, 4-2 pens), Stade de la Paix, Bouake)
Road to 2023 AFCON Final: Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, nicknamed “the Elephants,” could perhaps more fittingly be called “the Cats” after their remarkable journey to the final, reminiscent of the proverbial feline with nine lives.
Their rollercoaster ride began with a routine 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau, followed by a loss to Nigeria and a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea. On the brink of elimination, they scraped into the knockouts as the last, best third-placed team, leading to manager Jean-Louis Gasset’s sacking, with Emerse Fae installed in an interim capacity.
More drama followed in the knockout stage. A late Franck Kessie equaliser and penalty shootout win against holders Senegal was followed by an even more dramatic victory over dark horses Mali in the quarter-finals.
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana saved a penalty in the first half, but Mali looked set for victory after Dorgeles Nene’s 77th-minute goal. But with the final whistle looming, Simon Adingra equalised with the very last kick of regular time, sending the game into extra time. Oumar Diakite then netted the winning goal for the hosts at the death in the second half of extra time, sparking bedlam on and off the pitch.
Their semi-final clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo was a calmer affair, with Sebastien Haller netting the winner on his first start in the tournament.
The Elephants are now the first tournament hosts to reach the final since Egypt won the Nations Cup on home soil in 2006.
Facing bitter rivals Nigeria, Ivory Coast will hope their incredible luck holds. Victory would be a historic moment for Fae, taking the trophy in just his fourth game in charge.
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Give a boost to your next sports bet2023 AFCON: Ivory Coast Results
- 13/01 Group A: Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
- 18/01 Group A: Ivory Coast 0-1 Nigeria, (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
- 22/01 Group A: Equatorial Guinea 4-0 Ivory Coast, (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
- 29/01 Second Round: Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast aet (4-5 pens), Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro)
- 03/02 QF: Mali 1-2 Ivory Coast (aet), (Stade de la Paix Bouake)
- 07/01 SF: Ivory Coast 1-0 DR Congo, (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast AFCON Head-to-Head
Nigeria and Ivory Coast boast a rich history of clashes at the Africa Cup of Nations, with their upcoming encounter marking their eighth meeting in the tournament. Here’s a look back at their past battles:
- 1980: Nigeria hosted the tournament and faced Ivory Coast in their second match. The game ended goalless, but the Eagles eventually lifted the trophy for the first time.
- 1990: Rashidi Yekini’s early goal secured a 1-0 victory for Nigeria in the group stage, though they fell to the host nation Algeria in the final.
- 1994: A dramatic penalty shootout decided the semi-final after a 2-2 draw. Yekini’s winning penalty sent Nigeria to the final where they beat Zambia for their second AFCON triumph.
- 2006: The pendulum swung in Ivory Coast’s favour as they defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the semi-finals on their way to lifting the trophy.
- 2008: Two years later, Ivory Coast again emerged victorious with a 1-0 win in the group stage, thanks to a Salomon Kalou goal.
- 2013: Nigeria regained the upper hand in a thrilling quarter-final encounter. Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba scored for the Super Eagles, securing a 2-1 victory and ultimately leading them to their third AFCON title.
- 2024: Ekong’s penalty secured a 1-0 win for Nigeria in the group stage.
Give a boost to your next sports betAFCON 2023 Final: Team News and Players to Watch
The picture for Sunday’s AFCON final will become clearer as both teams assess their squads after gruelling semi-final victories.
However, Osimhen, initially troubled by abdominal discomfort, was declared fit to play against South Africa. Despite scoring only one goal so far, he leads the tournament in shots on goal and expected goals. He also had goals ruled out against Angola and South Africa.
Ademola Lookman leads the Nigerian attack with three goals, while Troost-Ekong has been a rock at the back, contributing two crucial penalties and bolstering the defence with four clean sheets. Goalkeeper Nwabali has been a revelation, alongside impressive defenders Ola Aina and Calvin Bassey.
Ivory Coast can rely on Dortmund striker Haller, who’s fit and firing again. Adingra, back from injury, adds another threat to their attack. Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana have been midfield anchors, while Serge Aurier, Odilon Kossounou, and Oumar Diakite return from suspension, strengthening the Elephants’ squad for the final.
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The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations saw underdogs rise and established powers falter, creating a tournament brimming with drama and excitement.
Unlikely Heroes:
Equatorial Guinea: The Nzalang Nacional defied expectations, topping a group with Nigeria and the hosts. Though their journey ended in the last 16 against Guinea, their spirited performance and top scorer Emilio Nsue left their mark.
Cape Verde: The Blue Sharks shocked everyone by finishing above Ghana and Egypt in their group. Their run ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to South Africa.
Angola: The Palancas Negras surprised everyone by winning Group D, led by captain Fredy and forwards Mabululu and Gelson Dala. They pushed Nigeria hard but ultimately fell short in the quarter-finals.
Disappointments:
Senegal: The defending champions entered as favourites and were the only team with a 100% record in the group stage. However, the Teranga Lions were stunned by Ivory Coast in the last 16.
Morocco: Fresh off their historic World Cup run, the Atlas Lions were expected to challenge but were surprisingly upset by South Africa. Their long wait for a second continental title continues.
Egypt: Mohamed Salah’s withdrawal due to injury was a major blow, and Egypt’s campaign ended with a disappointing group stage exit.
Other flops: Ghana, Algeria, and Tunisia all underperformed, failing to advance past the group stage.
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- 5 Goals: Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea)
- 4 Goals: Gelson Dala (Angola), Mostafa Mohamed (Egypt)
- 3 Goals: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Mabululu (Angola), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Mohamed Bayo (Guinea), Baghdad Bounedjah (Algeria), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
AFCON 2023 Schedule
10/02 21:00 Third place play-off: South Africa v DR Congo (Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
11/02 21:00 Final: Nigeria v Ivory Coast (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
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