Ivory Coast’s dream to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations saw a remarkable turnaround in the second half, with goals from Franck Kessié and Sébastien Haller securing the title after overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the first half.
This triumph for the hosts marks the end of an 18-year drought in the tournament, with Egypt being the last country to host and win in 2006.
The Elephants’ third title brings them level with their opponents, Nigeria, on Sunday in terms of tournament victories.
Despite low expectations following two home game losses, including a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast rallied under the guidance of Assistant Coach Emerse Fae, who took over after the sacking of head coach Jean-Louis Gasset.
Their journey to the final included victories over defending champions Senegal and Mali in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals, respectively, before securing a narrow win against DR Congo in the semi-finals.
Facing off against Nigeria in the final, Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong’s first-half goal initially seemed to put his side in the driving seat for a fourth title.
However, Ivory Coast’s resilience shone through in the second half, with Haller’s winning goal sealing a memorable comeback victory, much to the delight of the home fans.
The Ivorian team’s ability to bounce back from a challenging group stage to clinch the title brought immense joy to their supporters and marked a remarkable achievement in their tournament campaign.
Source: InsiderGH.com
