Hosts Ivory Coast will look for their third AFCON title as Nigeria target their fourth.
The highly anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final will see Nigeria facing off against Ivory Coast in a battle for continental supremacy. Nigeria has displayed remarkable resilience and offensive prowess, while Ivory Coast has impressed with its tenacious defense and tactical finesse. This thrilling encounter is expected to showcase a clash of playing styles and individual talents, setting the stage for an exhilarating finale. Football enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await what promises to be a captivating match to determine the Afcon 2023 champion.
Who: Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
What: CAF AFCON 2023 final
When: Sunday, February 11, 2024, 20:00 GMT
Where: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
The Super Eagles face the hosts, Ivory Coast, who they beat 1-0 in the group stage in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
The Elephants were nearly eliminated at the first hurdle having also lost to Equatorial Guinea in the final group-stage match, and parted company with their manager Jean-Louis Gasset while they awaited clarification as to whether they would progress as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
“There is no favourite for the final,” insisted the Portuguese coach. “Each side has a 50 percent chance, but we are determined to win this final.”
Osimehn, meantime, has previously received praise from his coach for his work rate and performances at the tournament. The Napoli striker earned his side a point in Nigeria’s opening match against Equatorial Guinea but has yet to find the net again.
Ivory Coast’s interim coach Emerse Fae was not his country’s first choice to replace the outgoing Gasset yet now he leads his country in the final. Now Fae can now join an elite list of Africa Cup of Nations-winning managers just weeks after taking charge of a senior match for the first time.
Team News
Ivory Coast: Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Seko Fofana and Franck Kessie are playing the most minutes this edition but Ibrahim Sangare and Wilfried Singo are also emerging as regulars. Serge Aurier will be back from suspension along with Oumar Diakite while Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra are likely to start with Nicolas Pepe and Max Gradel battling it out for another starting berth
Potential Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Aurier, Boly, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Seri, Fofana; Pepe, Haller, Adingra.
Nigeria: Osimhen, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina and Frank Onyeka have clocked over 500 minutes this AFCON while Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon have have passed the 400-minute mark. Osimhen should be backed up by Lookman and Simon in attack although Terem Moffi and Kelechi Iheanacho helped to get the team through in the semis on penalties. Zaidu Sanusi could miss out because of Bright Osayi-Samuel again with Aina on the other side.
Potential Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Aina; Simon, Lookman; Osimhen.
How to watch 2023 AFCON Final
2023 AFCON, held in 2024, is available to watch live across Africa and the rest of the world. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) aims to make the tournament accessible on free-to-air TV across the continent.
Nigerian fans will be able to watch the match live on AfroSport.
In the UK & Ireland, Sky Sports are broadcasting every AFCON fixture while BBC Three will also be broadcasting the final live. Streams are available on the BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer and SkyGo app.
Other broadcasters include beIN Sport, which will broadcast the tournament in the Middle East and North Africa region as well as in France and the United States; CANAL+, which will show the event in French in Sub-Saharan Africa; GTV in Ghana; ZIGGO Sport in the Netherlands; and the CAF’s own media channels will also show games in some countries.
Prediction
Please drop your prediction in the comment section
Leave a Reply