After days of action-packed games filled with expected outcomes and unexpected upsets, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will come to a conclusion when Nigeria take on tournament hosts Ivory Coast at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday night.
Both sides have come a long way in the tournament, from meeting in the group stage which the Super Eagles triumphed 1-0, to the Elephants narrowly securing qualification to the knockout phase as one of the four best third-placed sides.
It is D-Day… Final game of #AFCON2023 will be LIVE on Afrosport TV, NTA, AIT, TVC, STV, Affia TV, Wazobia Max & BON-member stations
Nigeria ???????? ???? Ivory Coast ????????
⏰ 9pm (Nigerian Time) *studio opens 7.30pm
????️Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe #Afrosport #Nigeria #SuperEagles #I… pic.twitter.com/QBTzMxa4oL— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 11, 2024
Such was clearly not acceptable and they had to part ways with manager Jean-Louis Gasset and his assistant and former Ivorian international Emerse Fae took over on the interim.
What followed were resilient and highly-spirited performances against reigning champions Senegal and Mali with nine men in the round of 16 and quarter-finals respectively.
Ivory Coast have had a habit of responding late when they are behind, adding to the aforementioned attribute they have put on under Fae.
The Super Eagles, on their part, have put on defensive solidity and attacking proficiency to get past not only the Ivorians as earlier stated but also against the likes of Cameroon, Angola and South Africa in the knockout phase.
All you need to know about Nigeria ???????? and Ivory Coast ???????? run to the final, AFCON stats and how to watch #AFCON2023 final game LIVE.#Afrosport #Nigeria #IvoryCoast #TotalEnergiesAFCON #AfricanFootball #SuperEagles #AFCONFinalhttps://t.co/YymGpUCJNz
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 11, 2024
Not many expected that Nigeria and the Ivory Coast would make it to the final prior to the commencement of the tournament.
For the Nigerians, question marks lingered over coach Jose Peseiro’s effectiveness in leading the Super Eagles after questionable results in the qualifiers and in the warm up to the competition.
There was also the belief that the crop of players chosen were not going to be a match against some of the continent’s biggest sides.
Such was the sentiment about the Ivorian squad and it probably held water when they were on the cusp of elimination after losing a combined 5-0 to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage.
Now, these two sides have turned the fate around beyond expectations and are at a point where either side cannot afford to lose Sunday’s final.
#AFCON2023 trophy for Nigerians ?????????#Afrosport #Nigeria #SuperEagles #AhmedMusa #TotalEnergiesAFCON #AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/JfpvEXH2zF
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 11, 2024
Nigeria is currently going through tough economic times that is being felt by all classes of the populace and at a time when there is a lot of uncertainty in the direction the economy with the continual increase in prices of goods and services, winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will bring some respite and relief to the current economic tension across the entire country.
Winning the tournament will also be a big statement on the capabilities of the players and Peseiro that has been questioned over and over again. It will raise their stocks higher and make them more in-demand at club level (for the players) and international level (for Peseiro).
Nigeria winning Sunday’s final wil also be huge for bragging rights especially on the digital space. We have witnessed Nigerians winning the battle of supremacy on social media for every victory they have recorded at AFCON 2023. It gets louder and bigger with each win and a final victory will no doubt be explosive.
Our Best XI selection for #AFCON2023 semi-final is dominated by Nigeria ???????? and Ivory Coast ???????? … Your thoughts?#Afrosport #Nigeria #DRCongo #SouthAfrica #IvoryCoast #TotalEnergiesAFCON #AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/34GIIKpmDx
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 9, 2024
For the Ivory Coast, winning AFCON 2023 is equally important for the obvious reason of being hosts. The entire country will be behind the Elephants including president Alassane Ouattara and what would be sweeter if not ultimate glory on home soil. It will also add more sweetness on hosting the tournament which cost a reported $1 billion.
A win for Ivory Coast will be a big statement that a less-fancied team compared to the golden era of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Salomon Kalou among others, is capable of winning the tournament and will be a testament to the continuous talents that keep coming through the ranks whether raised home or abroad.
It will also be huge as an Ivorian coach in Fae will win AFCON again after Yeo Martial’s maiden success 22 years ago in Dakar.
Nigeria ???????? and Ivory Coast ???????? have both won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy once in the last 10 year…where will it go on Sunday? #Afrosport #Nigeria #IvoryCoast #SuperEagles #AFCON2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCON #AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/fgSnd8nOcN
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) February 10, 2024
The reality, however, is that one team is going to be on the losing side whether the game has to go to penalties or can be decided in 90 minutes.
Whatever the outcome is, one will be of joy, happiness, smiles and warmth while the other will be of sadness, tears, pain and heartbreak.
The end part of this reportgot me rolling