The champions of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition are the hosts, Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria led at the interval thanks to a strong header from William Troost-Ekong in the 38th minute, but the hosts rallied to win 2-1.
Nonetheless, the hosts made a tremendous comeback in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Franck Kessie tied the score in front of almost 58,000 Ivorian supporters crammed into the crowded stadium in support of the Elephants.
Sebastian Haller scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute with a deft toe poke following a risky cross into the Eagles’ crucial area, giving the Ivorians the last laugh. As a consequence, Cote d’Ivoire won their third AFCON championship.
This was after they won for the first time in 1992 and then in 2015. Having qualified for the knockout stages only as one of the best representatives of the third position.
They even qualified as the last best losers. Defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea led to the sacking of coach Jean-Louis Gasset. Emerse Fae then led Coted’Ivoire to the trophy.
Nigeria’s stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament award. Troost-Ekong playing his last AFCON tourney had scored three goals in the tournament, including the beautiful header in the finals and stood as a “rock of Gibraltar” in the Nigerian defence.
Mamelodi Sundowns Goalkeeper and Captain of South Africa, Romwen Williams won the best goal keeper of the tournament.
The top goal scorer award went to Spanish-born Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea, who scored five goals three of which was a hat-trick against the champions, Cote d’Ivoire.
South Africa collected its bronze medals having won the third place match against DR Congo. Earlier, the AFCON flag was transferred to Morocco which would host the tournament in 2025.
