The Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire emerged as the champions of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by defeating the Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-1 in the final. After falling behind to an early goal by Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong, Cote d’ Ivoire equalised through Franck Kessie and secured the winning goal from Haller, assisted by Simon Adingra. This victory marked Cote d’Ivoire’s third AFCON title, adding to their previous triumphs in 1992 and 2015, and equalling the number for Nigeria. Nigeria missed the opportunity to secure their fourth title and match their Ghanaian rivals. The Ivorian team, led by coach Emerse Fae, achieved an incredible turnaround after a heavy defeat to Equatorial Guinea in the group stage. They eliminated Senegal, Mali, and DR Congo in the knockout stages, displaying great resilience. The final was a tense and low-scoring affair, with Ivory Coast overturning the deficit and becoming the first host country to win the AFCON since 2006.
