The Ivorian national team was crowned champion for the third time in its history, following a 2-1 victory over Nigeria, in the match that took place today, Sunday, on the floor of the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, in the Ivorian city of Abidjan, for the final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire.

The two teams entered the match in its first round with the determination to open the scoring early, in order to conduct the match the way they wanted as the minutes passed, and thus settle the result in 90 minutes, knowing that the Nigerian national team dreams of obtaining its fourth title in the African Cup of Nations, after the 1980, 1994 and 2013 editions, while the Nigerian national team aspires to Côte d’Ivoire won the tournament for the third time after the 1992 and 2015 editions.

The Ivorian national team extended its control over the course of the match in length and breadth as the minutes passed, seeking to score against Stanley Nwabali, to end the first round with a lead that would comfort them, and make them go through the second half with less effort, to keep the cup in Abidjan, while the Nigerian players relied on counterattacks, perhaps. Give them a goal against the run of play.

While Ivory Coast was looking to open the scoring, the Nigerian team stunned them with a goal against the run of play in the 38th minute, headed by player William Troost-Ekong, putting his country in the lead, bringing it closer to winning the fourth title in its history, while Haller’s teammates found themselves required to equalize. Before the end of the first round to stay in the atmosphere of the meeting.

The Ivorian national team tried to achieve a draw in all possible ways, through the attempts made available to it, but the haste of its players in ending the attacks after reaching the operations box, whether while shooting or passing, prevented the goal from being achieved, not to mention the good saves made by goalkeeper Stanley Noubali, at a time when His companions continued their maneuvers, hoping to add the second goal, to no avail. Thus, the first round ended with the Eagles leading by a clean goal over the Elephants.

Ivory Coast began the second round, the second round, pressing since the whistle of Mauritanian referee Dahan Beda, searching for a draw, and searching for the winning goal, to win the third title in its history, or at least go through the extra two halves, while the Nigerian national team continued to rely on attacks. The rebound, perhaps, will give him a second goal that will decide the result and the coronation in his favor.

After many failed attempts, the Ivorian team was able to score an equalizer in the 62nd minute with a header by Franck Kessie, returning the match to the starting point, so that each team searched again for the second goal, which would give Nigeria its fourth title in the African Cup of Nations, after the 1980, 1994 and 2013 editions. He leads Côte d’Ivoire to win the tournament for the third time after the 1992 and 2015 editions.

The Ivorian national team continued its drive and control over the course of the match, both in length and breadth, in search of the second goal, which it almost achieved on more than one occasion, had it not been for the haste of its players in ending attacks after repeatedly reaching the operations box, whether during shooting or passing, not to mention the good saves made by goalkeeper Stanley. Noubali, while the latter’s companions were waiting for the opportunity to surprise the elephants with a second goal against the run of play.

The sons of Emers Fayé were able to add the second goal through player Sebastien Heller in the 81st minute, bringing his country closer to winning the title, while the Nigerian players put all their weight on the Ivorian defense in search of an equalizer, to at least pass to the extra two periods, but all The attempts failed, and things continued as they were for the remaining minutes, without any change in the score, so the match ended with a 2-1 victory for Côte d’Ivoire over Nigeria, as a result of which it won the title for the third time in its history.