In the ongoing African Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will play the Elephants of the Ivory Coast on Sunday in the final in Abidjan. Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the hosts Ivory Coast advanced them to the final thanks to a game-winning goal from Sebastien Haller, the game’s hero.
In the 65th minute at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, Borussia Dortmund striker Haller made his tournament debut after suffering an injury. His shot looped over the goalkeeper and in. Haller connected with a cross from Max-Alain Gradel. That was sufficient to end a heated but competitive semifinal match, and the Ivorians will now play Nigeria at the same location on Sunday to determine who wins the championship.
The two-time champions are the first host nation to make it to the Cup of Nations final since Egypt did so in 2006, and their incredible comeback from almost elimination in the group stage is truly astounding.
On the other hand, it was a heartbreaking loss for DR Congo, who had been hoping to make their first AFCON final appearance since winning the championship in Zaire in 1974.
The Ivory Coast’s interim coach, Emerse Fae, had called the team’s performance in the tournament “miraculous” on the eve of this match. Gasset was fired after the team had terrible group stage results.
Having been humiliated and nearly eliminated following a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on January 22, this was their first game back at the dusty Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan.
As the last of the four best third-place teams, the Elephants barely made it to the round of16, where they defeated Senegal, the defending champions, on penalties.
After that, they defeated Mali in the quarter-finals, winning extra time even though they only had ten men for most of the game.
The match-winning goalscorer against Mali, Oumar Diakite, was sent off during his celebration and was suspended along with Christian Kouame, captain Serge Aurier, and Odilon Kossounou.
Simon Adingra, a Brighton winger who scored the equalizer against Mali, and Haller, the talisman striker who was finally totally healthy, were among those in.
When DR Congo previously competed in the AFCON semifinals in 2015, they were beaten 3-1 by the Ivorians. This time, they were seeking revenge.
Will the good luck sail Ivorian to win the 2023 Afcon?
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