Stay with us for live updates from the AFCON final match between Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire
By Efosa Taiwo
28′ Nigeria’s coach Jose Peseiro receives a yellow card after vehemently protesting the referee’s decision to call for a foul committed by Osimhen.
22′ Sanusi takes the free-kick but the linesman catches Ekong offside.
21′ Free-kick for Nigeria as Lookman gets infringed upon.
19′ Max Gradel with an acrobatic kick but his attempt hits the side-net.
17′ The Super Eagles with some series of offensive plays but no real threats for the Ivorians.
12′ Fofana fires a shot but Nwabali saves comfortably.
12′ Aina clears out for a corner a dangerous cross from the Ivorian.
10′ Cote D’Ivoire with another set-piece but the Nigerian defence clears out for safety
7′ Adingra with a quick step-over, gets past Ola Aina, but fires over the net. Cote D’Ivoire growing in confidence in the game with successive chances.
6′ Haller with a chance but could not connect to the diagonal cross into the box. Super Eagles survived that.
4′ Cote D’Ivoire gets the first corner of the game
3′ Sebastien Haller getting into the thick of action with a weak header that does not trouble Nwabali in goal for the Super Eagles
1′ Early freekick for Nigeria after Ademola Lookman gets roughened up by the Ivorians
1′ The match gets underway.
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The Super Eagles of Nigeria face the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in what promises to be a showdown.
Both sides have had an interesting run into the final of the competition and will be ready to leave it all out on the pitch as they seek to increase the AFCON titles in their trophy cabinet.
When both sides faced off in the group stage, Nigeria, via a spot kick converted by captain William Troost-Ekong. pipped the Cote D’Ivoire team 1-0 as they went on to secure a second-placed finish while Cote D’Ivoire made it out as one of the four best-third placed teams.
Nigeria have faced stronger sides coming into the final, and look a better team on paper to clinch the AFCON trophy, but Cote D’Ivoire themselves are no minnows especially with their renewed energy and optimism after finding themselves in the second round by a stroke of luck and now driven by the ambition to make it count in front of millions of their home fans.
For the Elephants, this is a revenge mission that comes with a better prize: the AFCON trophy, while for Nigeria: nothing will be more epic than winning the AFCON by defeating the hosts and neighbours: Cote D’Ivoire right on their own soil.
Nigeria XI vs Cote D’Ivoire: Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen.
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