Ivory Coast striker Sebastien Haller has fired warning shots to Nigeria to expect a different ball game in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.
The Borussia Dortmund star was a notable omission in the Group A game between both games that ended in a 1-0 victory for the Super Eagles.
On Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haller’s solo effort lifted Ivory Coast into the final in their 1-0 win and he believes they can cause Nigeria havoc in Abidjan.
“There is a difference between playing a group match and a final,” Haller said. “The fact that we have already faced each other is an advantage for both teams.
“I expect a tough match, we know how Nigerians play, it’s up to us to give them problems.
“Our journey has strengthened our bonds within the group. Ivory Coast has gone through trials that have made it stronger.”
After finishing third in Group A with three points after three games, Ivory Coast advanced into the knock-out stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
They overcame Senegal via penalty shoot-out in the round of 16 and they got the best of Mali with a 2-1 win in the quarter-final before Wednesday’s defeat of DR Congo in the semi-final.
