Rabat – In a surprising turn of events, Cote d’Ivoire won the prestigious African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy after an epic clash against favorites Nigeria on Sunday.
The match ended in a narrow 2-1 win for the Elephants, pushing Nigeria to the runner-up place in this year’s tournament.
Cote d’Ivoire’s win was thanks to Haller finding the back of the net after Adingra’s precise cross.
The Elephants sealed their win in the 81st-minute mark, holding a crucial 2-1 lead over Nigeria.
Nigeria had taken the lead earlier in the match through Troost-Ekong’s header, which initially put them ahead 1-0. However, Ivory Coast fought back relentlessly, with Kessie’s header from a corner bringing them level at 1-1.
The match was filled with drama as Nigeria’s Osimhen and Ivory Coast’s Fofana had earlier suffered injuries, resulting in substitutions and disrupting the flow of the game momentarily.
Cote d’Ivoire emerged as the tournament’s underdog. After finishing third in the stage group, the team managed through determination to land on top.
