Social gathering begins as Ivory Coast rallies to beat Nigeria 2-1 and win Africa Cup of Nations

Ivory Coast ‘s Franck Kessie celebrates after scoring his aspect’s first objective throughout the African Cup of Nations ultimate soccer match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria, on the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024
| Picture Credit score: AP

Let the celebration start.

Sébastien Haller scored late to guide host nation Ivory Coast to a exceptional Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria within the ultimate on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Haller fired in from shut vary within the 81st minute to finish the turnaround after Franck Kessié drew the Elephants degree within the 62nd.

It was Ivory Coast’s third title after wins in 1992 and 2015, each received on penalties.

Veteran Ivory Coast midfielder Max Gradel, now 36, was a part of the 2015 championship crew.

“Representing the nationwide crew is every part, and to have introduced pleasure to all Ivorians with what I’ve performed is much more unbelievable,” Gradel stated Sunday. “Maybe I do not understand every part that occurred at this time but, there are too many issues in my head, however I feel I will take a while to understand it.

“A very powerful factor is that Ivorians are pleased with the crew and I feel they’re that tonight. Successful the Africa Cup this night, there may be nothing higher, nothing higher.”

Haller’s second objective in as many video games after recovering from an ankle harm that saved him out of the group stage accomplished a private triumph for the participant, simply over a 12 months since he returned from most cancers therapy.

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong had scored within the thirty eighth towards the run of play with a header to a nook. The Tremendous Eagles had been outplayed within the first half and actually solely threatened once more in a determined try to equalize after Haller’s objective.

Troost-Ekong additionally scored when the groups final met within the group stage for Nigeria’s 1-0 win. That match had been simply the beginning of the Elephants’ troubles as Ivory Coast was virtually eradicated in its subsequent sport. It fired its coach however recorded late comeback wins over defending champion Senegal and Mali within the knockout stage, earlier than Haller fired the crew into the ultimate with the successful objective towards Congo within the semifinals.

Ivory Coast’s unlikely development by means of the knockout stage because it overcame setback after setback satisfied many religious Ivorians that God was on the crew’s aspect.

“It was a unprecedented match,” stated interim coach Emerse Faé, the earlier assistant who took over on his fortieth birthday.

Nigeria conceded as many objectives within the ultimate because it had in all its earlier video games within the match. Coach José Peseiro had banked on a imply protection to earn what would have been the Tremendous Eagles’ fourth title.

“We performed a incredible match, however at this time Côte d’Ivoire was higher,” Peseiro stated. The Portuguese coach stated the strain received to his gamers and counseled the house crew for exhibiting none.

Kessié’s header

Within the ultimate, Ivory Coast’s strain lastly paid off when Kessié’s header to Adingra’s nook set off a tumult of pleasure within the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Kessié ran to the nook and raised his hand to his brow in salute as the ocean of orange-clad followers rippled in delight.

A small pocket of green-and-white clad Nigeria followers behind one of many objectives had struggled to make an impression.

Haller’s winner set off celebrations that may final lengthy by means of the night time in Abidjan and in the remainder of the nation of 27.5 million individuals.

Pleasure had been constructing for days with streets was viewing areas with plastic tables and chairs set in entrance of TV screens within the district of Adjamé, and fan zones across the metropolis additionally confirmed the sport.

Site visitors was dropped at a crawl for miles across the stadium hours earlier than kickoff, offering road distributors with a captive buyer base to promote chilled bottles of water, fruit, snacks, Ivory Coast flags, hats, wigs and towels, duplicate jerseys for each groups, and extra.

Nevertheless it triggered issues for the Nigeria crew bus attending to the sport. Armed troopers frantically urged motorists caught in gridlock outdoors the stadium to tug over for the bus and safety element to make it by means of.

Followers needed to abandon stationary commuter buses to stroll to the match.