The miracle happened: Ivory Coast, close to elimination three weeks ago, won the African Cup of Nations in front of its home crowd on Sunday evening in Abidjan, overthrowing Nigeria with a decisive goal by Sébastien Haller (2-1).
The delirium is total. Ivory Coast won the 2023 African Cup of Nations which it organized (in these months of January and February 2024), Sunday evening, by beating Nigeria in the final (2-1), in an Alassane stadium. Ouattara in full delirium. For the third star of the country, after the coronations in 1995 and 2015 (with Yaya Touré but without Didier Drogba).
As a reminder, the Elephants were almost eliminated after their 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, during the third group match, on January 22. Jean-Louis Gasset threw in the towel, his assistant Emerse Faé took over the reins of this team miraculously qualified for the round of 16 as 3rd in the group. A qualification on penalties against Senegal, the reigning champion, launched a legendary journey.
Haller as a hero, what a symbol!
And this Sunday evening’s final also offered its share of twists and turns, since Victor Osimhen’s Super Eagles opened the scoring on their only opportunity of the first period, with a header from defender and captain William Troost-Ekong (38th) . The Ivorians always believed in it, first equalizing through Franck Kessié, also with a header (62nd).
And the miracle appeared ten minutes from the end of regulation time. Sébastien Haller was the last hero of an entire people. Sole scorer in the semi-final against DR Congo four days earlier, the 1.90 m center forward, suffering from testicular cancer in the summer of 2022, gave the advantage to the Côte d ‘Ivory on a cross from Simon Adingra (81st). The party could begin!
